working together: the national fishing and aquaculture rd ......approved by the primary industries...
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APPROVED BY THE PRIMARY
INDUSTRIES MINISTERIAL COUNCIL
23 APRIL 2010
Working Together: the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 2010A COMPONE NT OF THE NATIONAL PRIMARY INDU STRIES RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION FRAMEWORK
Working Together: the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 2010 was published by
the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation for the Strategy Working Group.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2010.
ISBN: 978-0-9808007-2-2
Enquiries: Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Locked Bag 222, Deakin West ACT 2600
02 6285 0400; from overseas + 61 2 6285 0400
To obtain this document in electronic form, visit: www.frdc.com.au/research/national-framework
PAGE 2
Abbreviations and acronymsABARE Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AFMA Australian Fisheries Management Authority
AFMF Australian Fisheries Management Forum
AFMF SSR Australian Fisheries Management Forum – Subcommittee for Science and Research
AIMS Australian Institute of Marine Science
APVMA Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
BRS Bureau of Rural Sciences
CERF Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities
CFA Commonwealth Fisheries Association
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientifi c and Industrial Research Organisation
DAFF Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
EBFM ecosystem-based fi shery management
EPBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
FRAB Fisheries Research Advisory Body
FRDC Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
FTE full-time equivalent
NAC National Aquaculture Council
NCCARF National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility
NGO non-government organisation
NRMSC Natural Resource Management Standing Committee
NSIA National Seafood Industry Alliance
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
PIMC Primary Industries Ministerial Council
PISC Primary Industries Standing Committee
R&D research and development
RA Recfi sh Australia
RD&E research, development and extension
SSA Seafood Services Australia
Front cover photos: Roger Charlton (trawlers), Dom+Heath (oysters). Back cover: Dom+Heath.
ContentsAcknowledgements 5
Executive summary 7
Context of the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 9
Th e National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension Framework 9
Important defi nitions 10
Th e fi shing and aquaculture industry: present and future 12
Industry profi le 12
Fishing and aquaculture resources 14
Drivers and opportunities 15
Business indicators for fi shing and aquaculture 16
Outlook for the industry 20
Analysis of fi shing and aquaculture RD&E capability 23
National fi shing and aquaculture RD&E needs 28
Planned outcomes of the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 28
Strategic research themes and research topics 30
Key performance indicators 37
Assessment of capability to meet RD&E needs 38
Implementation structure and system 40
Key structures 42
Consultation and approvals 45
Implementation steps 47
Appendix 1: Current and future fi shing and aquaculture capability to address strategic research themes 49
Appendix 2: Current and emerging collaborative arrangements 57
PAGE 3
CONTENTS
FiguresFigure 1: Major components and relationships within Australia’s fi shing and aquaculture industry 7
Figure 2: Tonnage and value of commercial fi shing and aquaculture; number of recreational fi shers 8
Figure 3: Distribution, tonnage and value of seafood exports and imports 11
Figure 4: Australian public perceptions of the sustainability of wild-catch fi shing, 2002 and 2007 12
Figure 5: Indigenous customary fi shing — catch and main locations. 16
Figure 6: Spectrum of RD&E capabilities supporting the fi shing and aquaculture industry 17
Figure 7: National RD&E investment (aquaculture, fi sheries, legislated activities, associated environment
and ecosystems) 18
Figure 8: Fishing and aquaculture researchers by sector 20
Figure 9: Research capability by state and territory 20
Figure 10: Research capability by major institution type 21
Figure 11: Primary outcome, value chain outcomes and supporting outcomes from the National Fishing
and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 23
Figure 12: Snapshot of strategic research themes and research topics, and the priorities for each sector
of the industry 24
Figure 13: Key structures to deliver and monitor the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy 35
TablesTable 1: Seafood production, value and price per kg, 2001–02 to 2007–08 11
Table 2: Estimates of direct and indirect employment by the commercial sector and related
post-harvest activities 13
Table 3: RD&E infrastructure and capital items >$100,000, plus all research vessels 19
PAGE 4
Acknowledgements Th e contributions of the following are gratefully acknowledged.
Members of the Strategy Leadership Group
Professor Colin Buxton, Tasmanian Aquaculture
and Fisheries Institute
Mr Len Olyott, Recfi sh Australia
Mr Robert (Bo) Carne, Department of Resources NT Mr Roland Pittar, Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry
Mr Justin Fromm, National Aquaculture Council Dr David C. Smith, Commonwealth Scientifi c and
Industrial Research Organisation
Mr John Harrison, Professional Fishermen’s Association Mr Neil Stump, Tasmanian Seafood Industry
Association
Mr Brian Jeff riess, Australian Southern Bluefi n Tuna
Industry Association
Mr Glenn Weir, Department of Primary Industries
and Resources SA
Mr Brett McCallum, Pearl Producers Association Dr Kate Wilson, Marine and Coastal Committee
Mr Chris Melham, Commonwealth Fisheries
Association
Mr Will Zacharin, Primary Industries and Resources
South Australia
Mr Jeff Moore, Commonwealth Fisheries Association
Members of the Working Group
Dr Patrick Hone, Executive Director, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Chair
Mr Rob Gott, Director Marine Resources, Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania
Mr Anthony Hurst, Executive Director Fisheries Victoria, Department of Primary Industries
Professor Mehdi Doroudi, Executive Director of Aquaculture, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
Ms Jo-Anne Ruscoe, Program Manager — Strategy, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
PAGE 5
Other individuals
Mr Peter Box, Group Strategies Pty Ltd
Mr Ewan Colquhoun and team, Ridge Partners Pty Ltd
Mr Peter Dundas-Smith
Mr Clive Huggan, Th e Strategists
Mr Tom Lewis and Mr Ray Murphy, RDS Partners Pty Ltd
Ms Kate Rodda, South Australian Research and Development Institute
Members of the federal and state government agencies, research institutes, universities and other RD&E providers who
contributed information and guidance that has been vital in developing the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E
Strategy, and the many individuals from all sectors of the industry who contributed, either through submission or through
the many meetings and workshops held over the period of development.
PAGE 6
Executive summaryTh is National Fishing and Aquaculture Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) Strategy establishes the future
direction to improve the focus, effi ciency and eff ectiveness of RD&E to support Australia’s fi shing and aquaculture
industry over the next fi ve years.
Th e strategy was developed at the request of the Australian Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC), and is
one component of the National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension Framework. Th e Framework
recognises that basic and strategic research can be provided from a distance; while adaptive development can be achieved
regionally; and extension and adoption of research outcomes most oft en have a local focus. Th e concept of major,
supporting, and linking (M-S-L) roles in RD&E has been incorporated in this strategy recognising that RD&E activities
span a broad spectrum of research — from stock assessment research, through innovative broader aquatic research, and
supply chain development. Th ese M-S-L arrangements will aim to reduce duplication, improve effi ciencies and maintain
key national capabilities.
Th e fi shing and aquaculture industry is characterised by its diversity of stakeholders and activities, geographic distribution,
high number of species utilised, and by having both a natural resource management (NRM) and primary industries basis
for management and development respectively. Th e fi shing and aquaculture industry comprises three main sectors:
commercial (comprising wild-catch, aquaculture and post-harvest); recreational; and indigenous customary1. Th ese
complexities have a signifi cant bearing on RD&E priorities and investment processes.
It was recognised early on in the development of the strategy that the existing RD&E system was characterised by
fragmented planning processes, and lack of focus on national issues. With no common forum for stakeholders to work
together on RD&E, the system contributed to confusion, competition, ineffi cient investment and suboptimal adoption
rates.
While this strategy has presented an opportunity to create a common industry vision, it was recognised early on that
changes to RD&E structures and processes cannot be considered without understanding how those changes aff ect the
management and regulation of fi shing and aquaculture activities. Defi ning the diff erences in the RD&E supporting both
innovation and regulation has been an important step in the development of the strategy, and in securing stakeholder
support.
Given the inherent complexity and diversity, consultation has been critical. Mechanisms included establishing the
strategy working group, a leadership group, and a broader stakeholder reference group. Th e latter group, consisting of
over 50 members, met twice to provide input on RD&E drivers, current capability, priority research areas and changes to
the RD&E structure. Input from grassroots fi shers was ensured through regional workshops. Th e strategy evolved through
numerous versions that were widely distributed for feedback.
1 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also participate in the commercial and recreational sectors.
PAGE 7
SUMMARY
In addition to wide consultation two comprehensive studies, Overview of the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry:
present and future, and RD&E capability audit and assessment for the Australian Fishing and Aquaculture Industry
supported the development of the strategy.
Change has now occurred that responds to the fi ndings of these reports, and is consistent with the objectives for the
National Primary Industries RD&E Framework. Th ese changes include:
• agreement to establish a national priorities forum that brings together government and industry leaders to lead the
implementation of the strategy, including prioritisation of RD&E investment
• an agreed defi nition of RD&E that recognises that stock assessment research diff ers from innovative RD&E activities
and needs to be managed accordingly (nevertheless, the strategy demonstrates the close linkage between RD&E and
management of fi sheries)
• development within the strategy of a national strategic RD&E plan, with defi ned outcomes, research themes and
research topics
• a regional approach to RD&E planning, investment and delivery that encourages collaborative arrangements
consistent with habitat, species distributions, and aquaculture activity
• recognition that extension needs to be included when considering research and development investment, and
integrated within the national system
• key performance indicators have been defi ned which will measure achievement against the strategy’s planned
outcomes
• gaps in critical RD&E capability have been determined.
Importantly, the strategy provides a foundation for further change that will improve the outcomes for stakeholders from
their RD&E investment. Th e most important elements that require further change are:
• addressing the identifi ed gaps in capability (e.g. aquatic animal health veterinarians)
• advancing the major-support-link (M-S-L) within a regional and national approach — the strategy has identifi ed
opportunities for research specialisation for particular sectors (e.g. Southern Rocklobster), and around specifi c
research areas e.g. bio-security, recreational fi shing, and climate change
• progressing the fi rst meetings of the research and extension networks
• establishing mechanisms to better engage with all stakeholders, but in particular with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander groups
• establishing mechanisms for monitoring, review and reporting on the strategy.
When the strategy is fully implemented, the fi shing and aquaculture industry will be strengthened by a national system
in which end users of the research take a leading role in determining and reviewing strategic directions and priorities for
RD&E. Although agencies will retain and build RD&E capability in fi elds strategically important to their jurisdictions
and industry sectors, they will collaborate more eff ectively with others to improve the capability of the national system in
priority areas. Coordination and sharing of expertise and research infrastructure will be important to this collaboration.
To encourage rapid uptake of new technologies, research developed in one location will be available nationally for the
whole industry. Th rough the strategy, higher returns on the substantial resources invested by government and industry
in RD&E will be possible.
Th is strategy is a signifi cant step for fi shing and aquaculture, but it is only the beginning. Structural and collaborative
arrangements, driven by strong leadership, will continually improve on the benefi ts the strategy can deliver.
PAGE 8
Context of the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy
This strategy is part of a new national research, development and extension framework for primary industries
Rural R&D corporations, and others, are jointly developing the National Primary Industries Research, Development and
Extension Framework to encourage greater collaboration and to promote continual improvement in the investment of
RD&E resources nationally. Th e Framework spans 14 primary industry sectors and seven cross-industry sectors.
Working Together: the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy is a component of the framework that has
resulted from a comprehensive examination of the emerging RD&E needs and opportunities of Australia’s fi shing and
aquaculture industry, and the strategic research necessary to respond to them.
Information about the National Primary Industries Research Development and Extension Framework is available at:
http://www.daff .gov.au/agriculture-food/innovation/national-primary-industries
The National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension FrameworkRD&E in primary industries is a key factor for increasing productivity and achieving sustainability. Australia has a very
complex web of research providers and investors who are independent operators with strong interconnections. Th e
15 rural R&D corporations are part of this web, as are the federal, state and territory governments, CSIRO, universities
and private RD&E providers.
Nationally, RD&E investment in primary industries, which exceeds $1 billion annually, needs to be applied eff ectively,
effi ciently and collaboratively. To that end, in 2005 the Primary Industries Ministerial Council endorsed the concept of
“National R with Regional D&E”, which recognises that basic and strategic research (R) can be provided from a distance,
with regional adaptive development (D) and local extension (E) being required to improve the uptake of innovation by
industry.
Subsequently, the Ministerial Council agreed to a set of principles for further cooperation between agencies and industry
to improve the effi ciency and eff ectiveness of national primary industries RD&E. Th e principles emphasise cooperation,
information sharing, maintaining funding, access to capability and reporting.
In 2007, the Ministerial Council agreed to develop a national RD&E framework to provide a more comprehensive, structured
approach within an agreed timeframe. Th e framework was launched, together with an over-arching intergovernmental
agreement in 2008, as the National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension Framework.
In November 2009, the Ministerial Council endorsed the framework including an overarching Statement of Intent as a
vehicle for commitment by the agencies coming within the ambit of the Primary Industries Steering Committee, the rural
R&D corporations and the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture. Th e statement provided the structural arrangements
and commitment of these parties to implement the framework.
PAGE 9
CONTEXT
Th e framework spans 14 primary industry sectors and seven cross-industry sectors. Th e primary industry sectors are beef,
cotton, dairy, fi shing and aquaculture, forests, grains, horticulture, pork, poultry, sheepmeat, sugar, wine, wool, and new
and emerging industries.
Th e cross-industry sectors are: animal biosecurity, animal welfare, biofuels and bioenergy, climate change and variability,
food and nutrition, plant biosecurity and water use in agriculture.
More information: http://www.daff .gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_fi le/0020/1450631/rde-statement-intent.pdf
Important defi nitionsDeveloping this strategy has been useful in many ways, not least in developing accepted terminology among diff erent
stakeholder groups.
The industry and its main sectors
Th e fi shing and aquaculture industry includes any industry carried on in or from Australia in connection with the
culturing, taking, preserving, storing, transporting, processing or marketing of fi sh or fi sh products.2
Th e fi shing and aquaculture industry comprises three main sectors: commercial3, recreational, and indigenous customary.
Th e commercial sector undertakes activities directed to a fi nancial return from the sale of seafood and non-edible aquatic
products. Activities are commercial wild-catch, aquaculture and post-harvest (i.e., processing, handling and retailing).
Th e recreational sector undertakes activities that create personal enjoyment and recreation from fi shing or non-extractive
use of aquatic resources. It includes fi sh stocking activities and commercial enterprises associated with the sector such as
fi sh tour operators, charter operators and fi shing guides, and fi sh-out activities from public or private impoundments.
Supporting the recreational sector are commercial enterprises such as tackle manufacturers and suppliers, industry
magazine and DVD publishers, etc.
Customary fi shing is undertaken by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to satisfy personal,
communal, domestic, ceremonial and/or educational needs inherent to their cultural life. Many indigenous communities
and individuals also participate in commercial and recreational fi shing.
Industry stakeholders
Stakeholders in the fi shing and aquaculture industry include:
• members of the fi shing and aquaculture industry (commercial wild-catch fi shers, aquaculture producers and post-
harvest enterprises; recreational fi shers and associated commercial enterprises; and indigenous customary fi shers)
• non-extractive users of aquatic resources
• the federal, state and territory governments (including their fi sheries managers and other natural resource managers)
• research providers
• the people of Australia (on whose behalf aquatic resources are managed, and as consumers).
Basic and strategic research
Basic research is work, of a general nature, conducted in order to acquire knowledge of the underlying foundations of
phenomena and observable facts without any obvious practical application in view.4 It is sometimes referred to as
fundamental research.
Strategic research is mission-oriented and involves the application of established scientifi c knowledge and methods to
broad social or economic objectives, oft en extending over a considerable period.5
2 Th e defi nition is from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Regulations, Amendment 1992.
3 Also called the “seafood industry”, although non-food items such as pearls are included among its products.
4 Cited in Th e Language of Business Intelligence, a glossary by Vernon Prior, at http://www.markintell.com/b-intelligence-language/
5 http://www.markintell.com/s-intelligence-language/
PAGE 10
The concept of national research, regional adaptive development and local extension
Th e Primary Industries Ministerial Council has endorsed the concept of
“National R with Regional D&E”, recognising that basic and strategic research
(R) can be provided from a distance, with regional adaptive development (D)
and local extension (E) being required to improve the uptake of innovation by
industry.
Only a small proportion of jurisdictionally based “research” activities currently
undertaken for fi sheries by fi sheries management agencies is classifi ed as basic
or strategic research, R. About 80% of the “research” activities undertaken to
support fi sheries management involves regional and/or local monitoring and
assessment, which would be classed as D; and provision of advice, which would
be classed as E. For the purpose of this document, this 80% is defi ned as stock
assessment research.
Basic or strategic R, in the context of fi sheries management, is the development
of new tools that could be applied in more than one location, such as new
methods for:
• measurement of biological, social or economic attributes, assessment of
stocks or ecosystems, oceanographic modelling systems, governance
frameworks, harvest strategies, and sampling techniques
• fishing that improve the value, cost-effectiveness or environmental
appropriateness of fi shing operations, and which could apply across multiple
fi sheries.
Basic or strategic R for aquaculture is similar to other farming sectors. It may
include new husbandry methods to improve cost effi ciencies in production,
development of new production systems, nutritional research and means to
minimise environmental impacts, which can apply across multiple species.
Decisions about what to apply and at what scale can be determined at the
regional or local level.
Regional adaptive development (D), in the context of the fi shing and aquaculture
industry, applies to adaptation of new tools, as outlined above, for use at regional
or local scales. Examples of adaptive development include the use of an existing
type of sampling program or stock model in a new location. Whether they are
applied at a local or regional scale depends on the geographic extent of the stock
and the management systems that operate. Decisions about what to apply and
at what scale can be determined at the regional or local level.
Aquaculture D includes adaptation of previously developed production systems
or production processes for a species into a new region where some of the
parameters may be diff erent. Th is can include examination of the cost
eff ectiveness of any R completed for new locations, species etc.
Local extension E facilitates empowerment through systematic and
participatory transfer of knowledge and skills to bring about positive change
in behaviours and/or attitudes. In the context of fi shing and aquaculture,
target groups include fi sheries management, government agencies, catching
sectors, aquaculture producers and the broader community.
PAGE 11
The fi shing and aquaculture industry: present and futureA comprehensive study, Overview of the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry: present and future, was undertaken
as part of the preparation of this strategy. It is available from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation in
hard copy and electronically from www.frdc.com.au
Th is section summarises the key issues and indicators for the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry, consistent with
that study.
Industry profi leTh e fi shing and aquaculture industry makes a large, unique contribution to the wellbeing and economy of Australians.
Th e use and management of aquatic natural resources enable contributions in four areas as follows:
• Commercial wild-catch and aquaculture is Australia’s sixth most valuable food-based primary industry. Th e combined
gross value of production of commercial wild-catch and aquaculture for 2007–08 (landed/farmgate value) was
$2.19 billion. Exports earned $1.3 billion.
• Increased seafood consumption is a global trend for modern, health-conscious consumers. Commercial fi shers and
aquaculturists provide fresh, high-quality products to meet this demand.
• Fishing is a recreational activity for about 3.4 million Australians each year, directly contributing an estimated
additional $2.5 billion to national and regional economies.
• Customary fi shing by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people contributes signifi cantly to their cultural life, health,
and social cohesion. Fishing and aquaculture activities also provide a context for economic development and for training.
Th e commercial, recreational and indigenous customary sectors of the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry
experience common, national challenges. Within those sectors, there are many unique challenges that vary around
Australia and give rise to specifi c research, development and extension needs. A few indicative examples are as follows:
• Some commercial wild-catch fi sheries face declining stock recruitment (Western Australian Rocklobster).
• Changes in predation patterns are occurring within ecosystems (Tasmanian Rocklobster).
• Seafood chain effi ciency and viability are crucial in some fi sheries (South East Australian scale fi sheries).
• Some aquaculture sectors need to reconfi gure their harvest of wild breeding stock (Southern Bluefi n Tuna), address
predation by seals and other marine mammals (Atlantic Salmon), and build the operational scale to enable effi cient
reinvestment in RD&E (Blue Mussels).
• Recreational fi sheries continue to be hindered by a lack of up-to-date data to guide sector development and diffi culties
in defi ning and quantifying social and economic benefi ts.
• Indigenous customary fi shing is geographically and culturally diverse, presenting challenges to coordination of
planning for RD&E investments.
PAGE 12
THE INDUSTRY
FIGURE 1: MAJOR COMPONENTS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN AUSTRALIA’S FISHING AND AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY
Th e fi shing and aquaculture industry operates in a business environment made more complex due to its dependence on
access to publicly managed natural resources. Th ese resources are managed for the benefi t of the community taking into
account both the needs of the present generation of Australians and the interests of future generations.
Th e complexity of ecosystems, species, fi sheries management arrangements, users and products along multiple tangible
and intangible value chains (seafood, recreation, indigenous customary) creates a complex operating environment for the
industry. Th is intricacy fl ows through to industry sectors, specifi c fi sheries, enterprises and regulators. Access to the
resource must be legally clear and commercially and socially attractive for industry to attract and make investment in
infrastructure, time, licences, vessels and people. As the demography of Australian communities change, so too does the
demand for access to aquatic resources and the products and services they create. In turn, management of the interests of
fi shery users requires constant attention. Re-balancing of these property rights needs to be undertaken optimally, in a
publicly transparent way.
Likewise, the adaptive capacity of the fi shing and aquaculture industry is closely linked to the degree of fl exibility in
fi sheries and aquaculture management arrangements.
More than 200 centres around Australia contribute to one or more sectors of the fi shing and aquaculture industry. Th e
following map highlights commercial and recreational activity and eff ort. Customary activity is shown at Figure 6.
Commercial use• extractive• aquaculture
RESOURCE• marine inshore and offshore• terrestrial saline and fresh water
GOVERNMENTFishery managers• policy• compliance capability• compliance costs• conservation• international fisheries
Wild-catch• financial return• seafood, pearls, pharmaceuticals, extracts, etc.• personal enjoyment• social benefits
Aquaculture• financial return• seafood, pearls, pharmaceuticals, extracts, etc.• personal enjoyment• social benefits
COMMUNITY• awareness and perceptions• culture and education• expectations• endorsement• investment in research• investment in best practice
CONSUMERSof seafood, pearls, aquatic extracts, etc. and recreational orcustomary activity
Recreational and cultural use• extractive and non-extractive• catch and release• passive
NGOsDomestic and overseas advocacy
COMMERCIAL FISHERS AND AQUACULTURISTSMarket risks and returns – Regional and national outcomes –
Direct and indirect outcomes – Economic outcomes – Social outcomes
Risks and returns – Regional and national outcomes – Direct and indirect outcomes – Economic outcomes –
Social outcomesRECREATIONAL AND CUSTOMARY FISHERS
• personal enjoyment• financial return • social benefits• food and health• customary practice by indigenous people• cultural preservation• restocking
IMPO
RTS
EXPO
RTS
TOU
RISM
AN
D
EXPO
RTS
TOU
R G
UID
ES
CH
ART
ERS
Seafood and industrialprocessors
Manufacturers, handlersand retailers
Resource risks• pollution• drainage• vegetation clearing• illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing• pests and pathogens
Resource status• stock status• environment status• indicators• monitoring
Internationalimpacts• biosecurity• export and import trade• technology• exchange rates• shared fisheries
PAGE 13
FIGURE 2: TONNAGE AND VALUE OF COMMERCIAL FISHING AND AQUACULTURE; NUMBER OF RECREATIONAL FISHERS
Fishing and aquaculture resourcesAustralia’s marine environment is generally low in nutrients and, as a consequence, is low in biological productivity. Little
opportunity exists to increase the volume from wild-catch fi sheries. However, the diversity of marine and freshwater
habitats, from the tropics through to the Antarctic, provides a great variety of seafood products, potential for selected
aquaculture development, and enjoyment of many recreational and cultural fi shing experiences.
To service the complex needs of the private fi shing and aquaculture industry and its use of a public resource, government
must play a central role. Various federal, state and territory fi sheries management agencies have multiple overlapping and
discrete jurisdictional arrangements to permit access by resource users. Th ey also manage harvesting of aquatic products
and enjoyment of the aquatic environment. Fishery managers must balance the needs of the community today regarding
seafood and recreational and cultural benefi ts with expectations about sustainability of the resources and their future
uses. Public policy judgements must also be made about the competitive worth of non-fi shing demands, such as maritime
trade, oil and gas exploration, or marine exclusion zones. Added to this mix are uncertainties surrounding the eff ects of
climate change and variability that managers and industry must consider in their decision-making. Accurate, up-to-date
information and scientifi c discovery are crucial to inform all these decisions by managers, fi shery users and communities.
Th e pre-eminent role of the broader public and their regional communities in decisions about the fi shery and aquaculture
resources brings with it demands for strong science and eff ective, comprehensive dialogue. Science and awareness are
inextricably embedded in the management and governance of fi sheries.
It is important that Australia’s International treaties and fi shery agreements provide the uniform framework for management
of our fi sheries and those of our neighbours and take account of the interests of various NGOs and interest groups.
C’wealthGVP $288 m
52,227 t
TASGVP $475 m
34,460 t
NTGVP $56 m
5,937 tQLD
GVP $279 m29,079 t
WAGVP $448 m
29,301 t
SAGVP $468 m
56,566 t
NSWGVP $130 m
19,794 t
VICGVP $86 m
8,317 t
TAS125,000
29%
ACT53,00019%
VIC550,000
13%
NSW998,000
17%
QLD785,000
25%
SA328,000
24%
NT44,00032%
WA479,000
29%
1 to
Mean annual commercial catch (2000–02) kg/year
100,001 to240,001 to480,001 to890,001 to
All others
35,001 to35,000
Confidential
240,000480,000890,000
4,300,000
110,000(918)
(176)(91)(57)(31)
(19,071)
(265)
(1192)
GVP ($ million) and tonnes (t). Commercial fishing includes wild-catch and aquaculture.
Participation is the number of fishers in that state/territory.Percentage is as a proportion of the resident populationin that state/territory.
2002Recreational
%
2007–08CommercialGVP and t
PAGE 14
Drivers and opportunitiesMany factors in the business environment of the fi shing and aquaculture industry aff ect the industry’s performance and
the sustainability of the natural resources it uses. Many of these factors also aff ect global fi sheries, but not in the same
way as in Australia. Importantly, much of the factors are beyond the control of the industry.
As proposed in the Overview of the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry: present and future, the drivers of RD&E
and the opportunities on which RD&E can capitalise can be grouped under the following fi ve categories.
Biosecurity and aquatic animal health
Pest organisms, including translocated species and pathogens, are an increasing threat to Australian fi sheries and their
ecosystems. Th ey may adversely aff ect native species or farmed non-endemic species for food and habitat, by predation,
or by introduction of disease. Borne by international trade in live aquatic animals, bait fi sh, aquaculture feeds and
foodstuff s, and global logistic and human travel, the risk will continue to rise in concert with globalisation and climate
change.
Chemical contamination from land-based industries and agricultural and urban development is also a factor in aquatic
animal health.
Nationally, Australia is well prepared for biosecurity incursions in terrestrial industries. But it is less clear that we are able
to identify the risks and are ready to defend the health and security of aquatic animal and plant species and their dependent
communities and users.
Ecologically sustainable development
Biological diversity in ecosystems and the interconnectedness of ecosystems is increasingly understood by the Australian
community and considered to be important. All commercial fi shers that export, and all Commonwealth fi sheries, require
assessment approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Th is Act and other
environmental instruments will play an increasing role in the regulation and management of Australian wild-catch
fi sheries.
To achieve ecologically sustainable development, fi shers and aquaculturists need to:
• be aware of ecosystem needs and impacts (as with fi shery managers and other natural resource managers)
• engage in planning and management processes that include all users (including land users and regulators onshore
and upstream from fi shing and aquaculture resources) and local communities
• achieve profi tability in commercial fi shery enterprise (wild-catch; aquaculture; services supporting recreational
fi shing, chartering and other non-extractive uses) and satisfying experiences in non-commercial fi shing activities
• engage in open and frequent dialogue between the industry as natural resource users and their communities.
Th e industry and governments have made good progress with the ecologically sustainable development agenda but
continued eff ort and commitment by all stakeholders is essential if the crucial benefi ts are to be realised by the nation.
Climate change and variability
Some impacts of increased climate change and variability are now evident in our fi sheries. Th ese and many anticipated
direct and indirect impacts will change where and how the industry fi shes and farms in the future. Th ere will be gains
and losses, and challenges and opportunities for fi shers, aquaculturists, their communities and seafood businesses. Better
understanding is needed about the biophysical implications of climate change; social and economic implications of change
for sectors and related communities; market risks and opportunities ahead; and the needs of stakeholders. More adaptive
capacity is needed within sectors. Climate change will impact the fi shing and aquaculture industry on a number of levels
such as fuel, and through gear, engine and vessel confi guration changes.
PAGE 15
Consumers and markets
Consumers make the crucial choice on which the commercial sector depends: whether seafood or some other food at the
retail point of sale meets their needs and desires. Consumers are paying more attention to the food they eat, the value they
get from it, and what it does for them and for the world around them. Th e commercial sector must increase its knowledge
of markets and supply chains and develop new products specifi cally for their target markets. Developing new niche export
markets and demonstrating credence values (e.g. food safety, environmental sustainability, animal welfare) will become
increasingly important. Th is is especially so in premium markets that can accommodate production costs much higher
than in competing countries. Innovative processing and manufacturing within Australia is an opportunity to diff erentiate
Australian product and add value to it and there is a need to improve the connectedness along the supply chain from
harvest to the consumer. Enterprises and supply chains need to take the most environmentally sustainable pathway to
manage the resource, operate effi cient supply chains, and meet complex consumer needs.
Global and demographic factors
To a large extent, global wild-catch fi sheries are fully fi shed, with many struggling to recover from over-exploitation.
Demand for seafood is predicted to grow strongly as population increases and Asian countries become more affl uent. To
meet this demand, global aquaculture will need to grow 70 per cent to 90 million tonnes by 2030. Implications for Australia
industry include increased export sales of premium wild-catch seafoods at attractive margins, increased trade fl ows,
growth in domestic aquaculture, increased biosecurity risks, increased opportunity to select and adopt global technologies,
uncertainty regarding community perceptions of wild-catch fi shing and therefore access to the resource for both passive
(i.e., tourism) and active use. Increased disposable incomes in the developing economies will drive higher demand for
recreation and ecotourism in unique environments such as those in Australia. Th e fi shing tourism industry is likely to
expand. Th ese are complex matters and the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry can only respond and prosper if
it has invested in the necessary human skills, community endorsement, technologies and fi nancial capacity. One factor
that will remain is the risk to commercial operators in the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry from a high,
volatile exchange rate against the US dollar — a factor that is completely outside industry infl uence.
Human migration patterns and changing demographics aff ect community attitudes and usage patterns of the aquatic
resource. Th e composition and age of Australia’s population is set to change substantially over the next 50 years, with
signifi cant variation across states and regions. Regional and metropolitan Australia is moving to a more diverse ethnicity
and a higher average age. Policy responses and industry investments in RD&E need to be informed by these trends to
ensure returns to the community are optimised.
Business indicators for fi shing and aquaculture
Production
Th e total tonnage of commercial sector production (from Commonwealth, state and territory fi sheries and from
aquaculture) peaked at 279,000 tonnes in 2004–05 aft er several years of growth. Since then, tonnage, value and nominal
prices have fallen.
Commercial wild-catch fi sheries have a landed value of about $1.3 billion annually. Th ree species comprise over 60% of
the sector’s gross value of production: Rocklobster, prawn and Abalone. Th e past decade has seen wild-catch sector
tonnage rise and then fall 15% to retreat to levels at the start of the last decade. In real terms, the gross value of Australian
commercial wild-catch has declined 22% since 2001–02.
Since 2000–01, landed aquaculture production has increased 40% and gross value of production has increased 19%. Th e
sector generates about $900 million in landed value per year — about 40% of commercial fi shery revenues. Although
growth is strong, in real terms it is just adequate to keep pace with infl ation. Th e sector is dominated by fi ve species that
comprise 86% of the gross value of production of the sector: Atlantic Salmon, Southern Bluefi n Tuna, pearls, edible oysters,
and prawns. Aquaculture farm gate prices per kilogram fell 15% in the six years to 2008.
PAGE 16
2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
TONNES
Total wild-catch 192,398 207,031 223,138 231,085 191,640 183,423 173,178
Total aquaculture 44,746 45,943 43,475 48,014 54,539 60,142 62,503
Total commercial 237,144 252,974 266,613 279,099 246,179 243,565 235,681
GVP $’000
Total wild-catch 1,698,514 1,570,607 1,447,778 1,451,770 1,424,092 1,405,070 1,318,494
Total aquaculture 731,163 734,470 731,811 634,082 742,346 805,690 868,355
Total commercial 2,429,677 2,305,077 2,179,589 2,085,852 2,166,438 2,210,760 2,186,849
NOMINAL PRICES A$/kg
Total wild-catch 8.83 7.59 6.49 6.28 7.43 7.66 7.61
Total aquaculture 16.34 15.99 16.83 13.21 13.61 13.40 13.89
Total commercial 10.25 9.11 8.18 7.47 8.80 9.08 9.28
TABLE 1: SEAFOOD PRODUCTION, VALUE AND PRICE PER KG, 2001–02 TO 2007–08
TradeTh ree key wild-catch sectors (Rocklobster, Southern Bluefi n Tuna and Abalone) are highly export-focused; a fourth (prawns)
exports about 25% of its catch. In the aquaculture sector, Southern Bluefi n Tuna and Pearl Oysters, are export-dominant.
Across both wild-catch and aquaculture, about half of Australia’s seafood volumes are exported.
Australia imports about $1.3 billion worth of aquatic products annually, both edible and inedible.
Th ese trade fl ows are large relative to the commercial sector’s size, and the fi nancial impact on industry from exchange
rate fl uctuations is therefore also substantial. Th e value of the Australian dollar declined between 1998–99 and 2000–01
to a low of US 50 cents, then rose consistently on the back of the commodities boom through to more than US 90 cents
in late 2009. Currency movements and production volatility have caused Australian imports to rise in both tonnage and
value since 2001. Exports have declined in value by $700,000 and in volume by 20,000 tonnes during that time.
Increasing use of trade instruments, including free trade agreements, biosecurity requirements and health standards will
require Australian exporters to demonstrate that they can meet these changing conditions of international trade.
FIGURE 3: DISTRIBUTION, TONNAGE AND VALUE OF SEAFOOD EXPORTS AND IMPORTS
02001–02
Import value
2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
$0.5 bn
$1.0 bn
$1.5 bn
Trad
e va
lues
Tonn
es (e
dibl
e on
ly)
$2.0 bn
$2.5 bn
0
50,000 t
100,000 t
150,000 t
200,000 t
250,000 t
Import tonnageExport valueExport tonnage
PAGE 17
Th e returns on capital achieved by the great bulk of wild-catch fi shing enterprises are poor relative to other rural and food
industries. Available evidence suggests returns to aquaculture are higher, but the large working capital loads of some
aquaculture ventures have presented added diffi culties during the 2007–09 global fi nancial crises.
ConsumptionAustralian seafood consumption continues to rise on a long-term trend. In 2000, domestic consumption was 11.33 kg per
person with a projection of between 14.70 to 17.25 kg per person by 2020 (Fish Futures 2020 modelling study 2003, FRDC
project 1999/160). Research shows that Australian consumers believe seafood is better for them than other foods, and that
they want to eat more seafood. Th ey prefer to eat local seafood, but are generally unaware that about two-thirds of seafood
consumed in Australia is imported. Consumers are showing an increased preference to purchase their seafood from
supermarkets.
In terms of consumption of recreational fi shing activity, industry experts believe the demand in Australia is relatively
static, with participation dominated by 35–55 year old metropolitan males. Cheap access to technology provides an
increasing array of alternative recreational options for all consumers.
Public perceptionsGlobal fi sheries experts and NGOs believe Australian wild-catch fi sheries (commercial and recreational) are well managed
and sustainable. However community research also confi rms that Australians are increasingly concerned about the
sustainability of wild-catch fi shing.
Research has found that only 13% of the public believe that wild-catch fi shing is sustainable in its current form. Apart
from being a very low absolute fi gure, the number is only half the number of people who believed wild fi sheries were
sustainable in 2002. (A new data set to be released and incorporated early in 2010.)
With 38% of people in the recent survey being neutral, about half now believe wild-catch fi shing is not sustainable
compared with 38% in 2002.
FIGURE 4: AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF THE SUSTAINABILITY OF WILD-CATCH FISHING, 2002 AND 2007
EmploymentABARE’s Australian fi sheries statistics 2008 (July 2009), page 27, cites Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census data,
August 2006, showing 6,108 people in various commercial wild-catch categories and 3,628 in aquaculture — totalling
9,736. A further 4,202 are cited as being employed in fi sh wholesaling and 2,001 in seafood processing, totalling 6,203.
Th e grand total is 15,939.
However, signifi cant obstacles stand in the way of unambiguously attributing employment to the fi shing industry.
0%
Unsustainable
20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
2007
2002
NeutralSustainable
49% 13%38%
38% 25%37%
PAGE 18
Th ere is wide variability in the statistics from year to year. For example, ABS estimates from the Labour Force Survey
(part of the Monthly Population Survey) indicated that commercial fi shing employment in 2007–08 was 13,000 persons,
more than 30 per cent higher than in 2006–07 but about 32 per cent lower than in 2000–01.
Th e Fisheries Research and Development Corporation has stated (in Investing for tomorrow’s fi sh: the FRDC’s research and
development plan, 2005 to 2010, p. 52) that “Data collected by the ABS is not broken down in suffi cient detail to be very
useful for planning or strategic purposes. Th e data also tends to under-report employees, including through attribution
of some fi shing industry activities to other industries such as transport and generalised food processing. For example, in
1998 the ABS recorded 22,400 people directly employed in ‘wild-catch, aquaculture and processing’ and during 2004
recorded 12,000 people in ‘commercial fi shing’ (comprising the same components). Th is data does not appear to be
consistent and does not compare well with data collected in connection with the number of boats, fi shing licences (e.g.
16,000 Australia-wide in 2004) and other forms of fi shing regulation. Unfortunately, the latter sources are not suffi ciently
comprehensive to substitute for ABS data.”
With respect to the aquaculture sector, the Aquaculture Industry Action Agenda in 2002 stated that the sector employs
more than 7,000 people directly (ABS estimate: 5,050) and more than 20,000 people indirectly.
Th e break-down of the FRDC’s conjectural estimate of direct-plus-indirect employment by sectors totalled: wild-catch
60,000; aquaculture 20,000; post-harvest 20,000–30,000.
For direct and indirect employment in the commercial sector beyond production and processing — i.e., in the
transportation, storage, wholesaling and retailing sectors — the FRDC proposed a “conservative estimate” for 2005 of
20,000–30,000 people.
Th e resulting total was stated to be a “broad — but highly conjectural — estimate” of direct and indirect commercial
sector employment between 100,000 and 120,000. Th is estimate included wild-catch, aquaculture and all post-harvest
processes, including putative seafood components of transport, wholesaling, retailing and a small component of restaurant
employment.
Consistent with the FRDC estimates, and taking into account reductions in the size of the wild-catch sector and expansion
of the aquaculture sector since 2005, the estimates in table 2 — albeit highly conjectural, as for the FRDC fi gures, but
broadly in line with industry estimates — are projected for 2010.
TABLE 2: ESTIMATES OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR AND
RELATED POST-HARVEST ACTIVITIES
Wild-catch Aquaculture All post-harvest* Total
Direct 20,000 10,000
Indirect 30,000 20,000
Total 50,000 30,000 20,000–30,000 100,000–110,000
* Includes processing and putative transportation, storage, wholesaling, retailing and a component of restaurants.
Th e employment generated in support of about 3.5 million Australians who participate in recreational and indigenous
customary fi shing is not known.
PAGE 19
Outlook for the industry
Commercial wild-catchA report to the FRDC Resource Working Group, Evaluation the Performance of Australian Marine Capture Fisheries
(Ridge Partners 2009), estimated that under-performance in Australian wild-catch fi sheries (commercial and recreational)
results in a loss to the Australian economy of about $1 million per day. Th ey have identifi ed fi ve action priorities to recover
this loss:
• a more strategic approach to fi sheries management
• clearer allocation of shares and rights to fi shery users
• better collation and access to fi shery data to inform the industry, managers and communities
• greater use of economics in decision-making by the industry and managers
• clearly defi ned harvest and management goals and strategies for each fi shery.
Solutions to these challenges require:
• more collaboration among communities and their fi shers to manage and monitor fi shery use, allocation and
performance
• support from management agencies in progressing fi shery procedures from centralised and consultative approaches
to collaborative and delegated approaches, including co-management
• uniform sustainability indicators and monitoring procedures across fi sheries and jurisdictions
• more engagement by fi shers with communities to plan and manage the resource, and for communities to see the
signifi cant benefi ts of well-managed commercial fi sheries.
It is unlikely that the commercial wild-catch sector will be able to increase its catch in coming years. However, attractive
development opportunities exist for wild-catch fi sheries if fi shers focus on effi ciency and consumers. Th e focus for the
sector must be on increasing harvest effi ciency on the water, and on fi nancial margins in the downstream seafood sector
through market development and promotion.
AquacultureIn line with global trends, the aquaculture sector is expected to expand considerably unless constrained, especially by
public policy. Growth will enable the operational margins and reinvestment needed for innovation and market
development. However, as competition increases from imported aquaculture, Australian producers must have the
operating scale, global technologies and human capacity to be internationally competitive — based on new diff erentiated
products from Australia’s growing environments. Producers also need to engage their communities to enable logical,
sustainable growth to be planned and implemented. It is unlikely Australia will be able to compete on price alone. Th e
aquaculture sector must:
• engage with local communities to increase awareness of aquaculture practices and demonstrate the sustainability,
positive economic contribution and excellent products created by aquaculture — and in so doing secure endorsement
to gain access to waters and natural resources
• align legislation across jurisdictions to motivate and promote effi cient, sustainable investments by industry based on
competitive advantages of regions and ecosystems
• continue to invest in innovation and closely monitor and adopt/adapt technologies available in advanced aquaculture
operations worldwide
• jointly plan the development strategies for each species, and identify the key research areas that drive the strategic
competitive advantages of that species.
Th ree-quarters of the value of Australian commercial fi sheries is drawn from only seven key species. Other species will
continue to emerge over the next decade. In the meantime, it is important that national investment in science, capacity
development, biosecurity and information adequately safeguards these key species across their wild-catch, aquaculture,
recreational and indigenous customary fi shing domains.
PAGE 20
Recreational fi shingAustralian communities continue to evolve economically and socially, in turn creating changes in the values and
expectations of Australians, including their participation in recreational fi shing. Th e recreational fi shing sector’s
contribution to Australia is economically substantial (it directly contributes $2.5 billion) and socially substantial
(3.4 million Australians a year participate). However, it is reasonable to believe that the industry’s contribution on both
counts is undervalued because it is fragmented, oft en poorly described, and lacks the data and organisational capacity to
demonstrate its substantial outputs and outcomes to the economy and the community.
Community demand for recreational fi shing activity is broadly stable or slightly declining as competing recreational
activities abound in Australian life. However, demand for some activities such as charter and tourism-related recreational
fi shing is growing. Lacking the mechanisms that can convert the large user base into organisational resources, the sector
struggles to take up its full role in engaging communities, contributing to policy, and accessing and managing its share
of the fi sheries resource. Th is is crucial, as resource shares and access arrangements for recreational fi shers will come
under greater scrutiny.
Communities increasingly want to monitor fi shing sector performance (both commercial and recreational) through
quantifi able outcomes across environmental, demographic, economic and social indicators. Environmental indicators are
in place for recreational fi shing, and the demographic and economic data and tools exist but are yet to be organised and
implemented. For example, there is still immaturity in tools to effi ciently measure participation, catch and release by
location and time, and economic activity for all parts of the direct and indirect recreational fi shing supply chain.
Recent regional studies have made good progress in developing these tools and our understanding of the triple bottom
line performance of Australia’s fi sheries. However, the social indicators that defi ne tangible and intangible recreational
outcomes from fi shing are not well understood, and are the subject of much global research investment. Progress in this
fi eld must be monitored.
Indigenous customary fi shingTh e indigenous customary fi shing sector is now supported by legislation in all Australian jurisdictions. Th e development
of harmonised language to describe and defi ne the various activities of indigenous fi shers (customary, commercial,
aquacultural, recreational) has contributed to a more unifi ed approach. Th e sector can now more effi ciently move forward
to establish the organisational frameworks, planning goals and investment priorities that will most eff ectively support the
cultural and community values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including fi shing. But the measures to
indicate progress toward these goals must be more clearly defi ned.
A major constraint to implementing these goals is the lack of current comprehensive information about indigenous fi shing
communities, especially in northern Australia, and the relatively limited engagement on these issues with indigenous
communities. Better engagement will bring greater trust and benefi ts for this sector.
Th e catch and main centres of this sector of the industry, as reported by the fi sheries agencies of the states and Northern
Territory, are shown in Figure 5.
PAGE 21
FIGURE 5: INDIGENOUS CUSTOMARY FISHING — CATCH AND MAIN LOCATIONS
750 to
Marine and estuarineNumber of fish (non-bait)
12,501 to55,501 toAll others
4,651 to4,650
160 to
55,500105,000
12,500
750(1)
(5)(1)
(126)
(1)
(2)15,501 to
Inland freshwaterNumber of fish (non-bait)
63,501 to185,001 to
All others
Customary centre
Data sources: ABARE, FRDC, BRS, Marine Matters DAFF, state and territory agencies, industry sources. Data received from suppliers are assumed to be correct.No data received from Aouth Australia or New South Wales.
36,501 to36,500
636 to
185,000610,000
63,500
15,500(3)
(7)(5)
(250)
(4)
(14)
Busselton
Warrnambool
Stanley
Smithton
Strahan
Dover
Lakes Entrance
Lady Barron
St HelensBicheno
Coles BayTriabunna
NubeenaTasmania
Victoria
Hobart
AustralianCapitalTerritory
New South Wales
South Australia
Northern Territory
Western Australia
Queensland
Torres Straits
Injinoo
Lockhart River
HopevaleWujal WujalMona Mona
Yarrabal Cairns
Napranum
Kowanyama
Gununa
Sir Edward Pellew Islands
Wessel Islands
Gulf of Carpentaria
Umbakumba
Groote Eylandt
McArthur River
BorroloolaWarmun
Mirima
KalanaBarunga
East Alligator River
Tiwi Islands Maningrida
Kalumburu
Kimberley
Peron IslandsNauiyu
Darwin
Wadeye
Timber CreekOne Arm PointBeagle Bay
BroomeLooma
Mallingbar
Bidyadanga YungngoraDjugerari
Junjuwa
Texas
Goondiwindi
Albany
Nguie
Balyuan
PAGE 22
Analysis of fi shing and aquaculture RD&E capability
The 2010 RD&E capability auditA comprehensive audit of current RD&E capability — human, infrastructure and investment — relating to the fi shing
and aquaculture industry was undertaken to support the development of this strategy, and has been published as a
companion document. Th e scope for the audit included capability in research fi elds as broad as production systems,
engineering and technology, social sciences, economics, post-harvest, environment and ecosystems as applied to fi shing
and aquaculture, and associated aquatic ecology and biodiversity. Major and specialist infrastructure was included.
Th e RD&E capabilities supporting the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry cover probably the broadest range of
any of Australia’s primary industries. Th is wide spectrum is represented in Figure 6.
FIGURE 6: S PECTRUM OF RD&E CAPABILITIES SUPPORTING THE FISHING AND AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY
While the full spectrum of research is recognised and included in the capability survey, the main focus for this strategy
is on the centre grouping: the strategic activities with a high attribution of direct benefi t to the Australian fi shing and
aquaculture industry, acknowledging that the boundaries between these areas are not easy to defi ne.
RD&E investmentKey national research organisations (research providers) reported an average national annual investment of $129 million
for the fi ve fi nancial years 2004–05 to 2008–09 against the full spectrum of research. During this period investment
increased in each year from $117 million in 2004/05 to $142 million in 2008/09. In each of the years reported, investment
increased in stock assessments, and environmental and ecosystem research areas, with investment in Fisheries and
aquaculture being relatively static.
PAGE 23
Tactical research supporting state and Commonwealth jurisdictional management responsibilities (stock assessments)
Strategic research with a high attribution of direct benefi t
to industry
Strategic research supporting aquatic environment and ecosystem management with a low attribution
of direct benefi t to industry
CAPABILITY
FIGURE 7: NATIONAL RD&E INVESTMENT (AQUACULTURE, FISHERIES, LEGISLATED ACTIVITIES, ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENT
AND ECOSYSTEMS)
When investment attributed to associated environment and ecosystems is excluded, key national research providers
reported an average annual investment of $92 million over these years. During this period, total investment increased
each year from $87 million in 2004/05 to $98 million in 2008/09. Th is represents an increase of about 13%, matching the
corresponding Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase over the same period.
Th e trend for rising investment in RD&E supporting stock assessment is worth highlighting, as it indicates increased
management costs during a time when participation in wild fi sheries has declined. Th is trend supports the need to deliver
more effi cient governance and regulatory systems, which is one of the strategy’s research themes.
Research infrastructureTwenty-eight research organisations provided information on infrastructure and capital items valued at more than
$100,000 per item, plus all research vessels, (table 3). An indication of available usage (latent capacity) was also provided.
Reported infrastructure investment totalled in the order of $323 million. Infrastructure is reported as largely fully utilised
under current conditions.
As this strategy proposes a regional approach to implementation, it is useful to indicate where infrastructure is located in
relation to these proposed regions (Figure 14). Infrastructure and capital items with a reported value of $138 million is
located in the Northern region of Australia, $52 million in the Southwestern region and $133 million in the Southeastern
region.
PAGE 24
2828 28
2930
2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2730 30
3335
3231 34
3333
3035 36
41 44
Ann
ual i
nves
tmen
t ($
m)
Associated environment and ecosystems
Aquaculture
Fisheries
Legislative
Northern region Southwestern region6 Southeastern region
Item Valuea No.bAvailable (%)c
Valuea No.bAvailable (%)c
Valuea No.bAvailable (%)c
Min. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max.
Accommodation 0.8 2 0 0
Aquaculture equipment 0.3 1 0 0 0.2 1 100 100
Aquaculture ponds 11.4 5 2 100
Aquarium facility 40.7 11 15 100 5.5 2 40 50 23.2 11 0 50
Biocontainment facility 7.6 2 0 10
Boatshed 0.2 1 0 0
Education equipment 0.3 1 10 10
Hatchery 9.7 4 10 80 15.0 1 30 30 17.7 8 10 50
Laboratory 28.0 18 2 100 11.6 3 25 40 32.4 13 0 100
Laboratory equipment 0.3 2 20 20 1.3 3 0 90
Library 3.0 1 0 0
Microalgal biofuels 4.6 1 10 10
Photobioreactor 5.0 1 0 0
Recirculation system 4.5 3 20 20
Research facility 16.4 3 15 15 2.5 1
Research farm 1.0 1 0 0 5.0 2 30 60
Scientifi c equip. (fi eld) 9.3 8 20 30 1.3 3 10 100 11.4 9 0 70
Supercomputer7 0 0
Vessels (< 5 metres) 0.3 17 5 50 0.1 4 0 0 1.7 49 0 80
Vessels (5–10 metres) 2.1 25 0 30 0.9 12 10 50 3.2 33 10 100
Vessels (10–20 metres) 1.0 1 20 20 2.4 3 20 95
Vessels (20–50 metres) 6.7 2 25 25 16.7 2 20 20 11.5 2 20 20
Vessels (> 50 metres)8 1 0 0
Weather stations 0.2 7 0 0
Wharf 1.9 1 0 0
Workshop 4.1 4 0 0
Total reported value 138 52 133
Key: a – Estimated capital value ($ m); b – Number of items; c – Estimated available capacity
TABLE 3: RD&E INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL ITEMS >$100,000, PLUS ALL RESEARCH VESSELS
PAGE 25
6 SARDI, is included in the Southeastern region.
7 No value was provided for this item.
8 Th e capital value for the vessel Aurora Australis, which is chartered by the Australian Antarctic Division, is not included in this list.
Researcher capabilityTh e number of full-time equivalent (FTE) researchers undertaking strategic research with a high attribution of benefi t to
the fi shing and aquaculture industry are reported as 539. Th e number of FTE extension professionals was 68, of which:
• about 32% working in aquaculture-focused disciplines
• 68% working in fi sheries, further broken down as:
– 54% of fi sheries researchers are apportioned to commercial wild-catch sector
– 12% for recreational sector
– 2% for the indigenous customary sector.
When associated environment and ecosystems fi elds of research are included the number of FTE researchers and extension
professionals is reported at 884 nationally.
Appendix 1 maps FTEs against the strategy’s research themes.
FIGURE 8: FISHING AND AQUACULTURE RESEARCHERS BY SECTOR
Researcher capability at regional levelFigure 9 shows how the 607 FTE research and extension professionals (excluding those working in associated environment
and ecosystem fi elds) are spread across the states and territories. As CSIRO staff are located nationally, a split of 70%
Tasmania, 25% Queensland and 5% Western Australia is assumed.
FIGURE 9: RESEARCH CAPABILITY BY STATE AND TERRITORY
PAGE 26
ACT NSW NT QLD SA
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
31
44
26
118
23
81
65
TAS VIC
70
WA
84
4
61Full
time
equi
vale
nt
n = 607CSIRO Marine
32%
54%
2%
12%
Aquaculture: commerical
Fisheries: commercial wild-catch
Fisheries: indigenous customary
Fisheries: recreational
NB: FTE shown only where provided or proportionally allocated at sector level (n = 516)
Researcher capability by major institution typeCommonwealth research agencies, state governments and universities are all signifi cant providers of research capability
for the fi shing and aquaculture industry. Excluding researchers in the environment and ecosystem fi elds of research, there
were 531 FTE research and extension professionals employed by major institutions (those with equal to or more than
fi ve FTEs), as shown in Figure 10.
Twenty-seven small (less than or equal to fi ve FTEs) RD&E providers responded to a call for submissions to the audit.
Many of these were small, private consultancies headed by specialist personnel. Th is sector is becoming increasingly
important in provision of smaller RD&E projects with a specialist focus and a low reliance on infrastructure.
FIGURE 10: RESEARCH CAPABILITY BY MAJOR INSTITUTION TYPE (EXCLUDING ENVIRONMENT AND ECOSYSTEM
FIELDS OF RESEARCH)
Th e full report: RD&E capability audit and assessment for the Australian fi shing and aquacuture industry can be found
at www.frdc.com.au/research/national-framework
PAGE 27
CSI
RO M
arin
e
AIM
S
BRS
AA
HL
CSI
RO
AA
D
ABA
RE
SARD
I/PIR
SA
Dep
artm
ent
of F
ishe
ries,
WA
QD
PIF
– D
EED
I
DPI
Vic
Indu
stry
and
Inve
stm
ent
NSW
Fish
erie
s –
Dep
artm
ent
of R
esou
rces
NT
Art
hur
Ryla
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National fi shing and aquaculture RD&E needs
Planned outcomes of the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy Although investment in RD&E has been shown to provide signifi cant benefi ts for fi shing and aquaculture, stakeholders
have traditionally undertaken planning and priority-setting on a sector or jurisdictional basis. Although there will always
be specifi c important issues at these levels, signifi cant alignment exists on national, strategic issues. Th is strategy moves
fi shing and aquaculture toward integrated planning particularly for national, market-driven, whole-of-value-chain
priorities.
Th e primary outcome from the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy will be that:
the Australian community derives optimal economic, environmental and social benefi ts from its fi shing and
aquaculture resources.
To achieve this outcome the following three “value chain” outcomes must be addressed by the Strategy:
Fishing and aquaculture is managed for environmental sustainability.
Fishing and aquaculture is prosperous and viable.
Fishing and aquaculture contributes to meeting recreational, indigenous customary, and community needs.
Within each area, “supporting outcomes” have been identifi ed. Th ey form the scaff old for determining the national
research themes and priority research topics that complete the national RD&E planning structure and provide for
performance measures to be set.
PAGE 28
RD&E NEEDS
FIGURE 11: PRIMARY OUTCOME, VALUE CHAIN OUTCOMES AND SUPPORTING OUTCOMES FROM THE NATIONAL FISHING
AND AQUACULTURE RD&E STRATEGY
PAGE 29
Primary outcome from the Fisheries and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy
The Australian community derives optimal economic, environmental and social benefi ts from its fi shery and aquaculture resources
Value chain outcomes Fisheries and aquaculture are managed for environmental
sustainability
Fisheries and aquaculture are prosperous and viable
Fisheries and aquaculture contribute to meeting
customary, lifestyle and community needs
Supporting outcomes
Opportunities developed for the use of our resources that ensures long-term sustainability and growth of the industry
The fi shing and aquaculture industries are supported and valued by the community and the government
Competitive and profi table Improved health and wellbeing commerical sectors in Australian communities
Optimised resource access and allocation
Greater participation in recreational fi shing with enhanced satisfaction
Indigenous fi shing is sustainable and meets customary needs
Supply chain effi ciencies to ensure industry competitiveness and market access
Cost effective, coordinated management and regulatory systems that support fi sheries and aquaculture development
Effective incorporation of fi sheries in ecosystem based management (EBM) arrangements
Effective incorporation of economic and social objectives into management arrangements
A nationally coordinated approach to biosecurity and aquatic animal health
A nationally coordinated approach to climate change adaption and mitigation
Industry capability and leadership to effectively engage in co-management, and drive change to achieve goals
Enhanced professionalism of fi shing and aquaculutre businesses and organisations, with increased fl exibility and opportunity for developing human capability
Strategic research themes and research topicsNational strategic research themes are identifi ed against the three value chain outcomes, and under each theme priority
research topics as identifi ed by stakeholders are detailed (Figure 12). Th ese themes are further expanded pages 31–36.
Although there is contextual variation across sectors, there is an enormous amount of commonality in stakeholder goals
and RD&E needs. Similarly, there is considerable cross-over of themes between the three value outcome areas: for example,
aquatic animal health is crucial to the viability and prosperity of the industry.
Although seven cross-sectoral strategies will be developed in the National Primary Industries RD&E Framework for
Australian primary industries, this National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy identifi es the cross-sectoral issues
that are critical to the fi shing and aquaculture industry — namely biosecurity, animal welfare, biofuels and energy, and
climate change and variability. Th is strategy provides detail on the key research topics identifi ed as high-priority, noting
that a signifi cant task for implementation of this strategy will be to ensure alignment of those priorities with cross-sectoral
plans.
FIGURE 12: S NAPSHOT OF STRATEGIC RESEARCH THEMES AND RESEARCH TOPICS, AND THE PRIORITIES FOR EACH SECTOR
OF THE INDUSTRY
PAGE 30
Sector alignment
Primary outcome
Value chain outcomes
Strategic research themes A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
CO
MM
ERC
IAL
FISH
ING
REC
REA
TIO
NA
L
FISH
ING
CU
STO
MA
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FISH
ING
Cro
ss v
alu
e ch
ain
en
ablin
g s
trat
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s:
Peop
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evel
opm
ent
Ex
tten
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and
ado
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n
The Australian community derives optimal economic, environmental and social benefi ts from its fi shery and aquaculture resources
Fisheries and aquaculture are managed for environmental sustainability
Biosecurity and aquatic animal health
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Habitat and ecosystem protection
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Climate change ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Ecologically sustainable development
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Governance and regulatory systems
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fisheries and aquaculture are prosperous and viable
Resource access and allocation
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Growth and profi tability
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Maximising value from aquatic resources
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Consumers and markets
✓ ✓
Fisheries and aquaculture contribute to meeting customary, recreational and community needs
Community support from industry
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Community reilience and development
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Value chain outcome 1: Fishing and aquaculture are managed f or environmental sustainability
Strategic research theme:Biosecurity and aquatic animal health — To develop methods and processes to protect fi sheries, aquaculture sites and ecosystems from pests and diseases
Pest organisms, including translocated species and pathogens, are an increasing threat to Australian fi shing and
aquaculture sectors and ecosystems. Conveyed by movement of live animals to, and within, Australia, interactions
between cultured and wild stocks, increased global goods transportation and human travel, this risk will continue to rise
in concert with globalisation. It is also predicted that climate change will increase the risk of pest and pathogen movement.
Australia’s fi shing and aquaculture sectors need to develop the capability, systems, knowledge and technologies to prevent
and reduce the incidence and impact of pests and disease on ecosystems, profi tability and viability.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• enhancing knowledge of pests and diseases of commercial consequence
• understanding attitudes and responses of industry (fi shing, goods transportation and tourism etc.) to translocation
threats
• reducing pest and disease impacts on fi shing and aquaculture businesses and the environment
• developing capability, technology and processes to detect, prevent and respond to aquatic animal health pathogens
and minimise risks through translocation
• delivering R&D to support improved access to fi t for purpose chemicals (AquaVet Chemicals) for the Australian
aquaculture industry.
Strategic research theme:Habitat and ecosystem protection — To increase and apply knowledge of the effects of fi shing, aquaculture, pollution, habitat destruction, and land based activities on fi sh and their aquatic habitats
Changes in the broader environment directly aff ect the sustainability of regional habitats and ecosystems for aquatic
species. Habitat integrity is a primary driver for the productivity of fi sheries, the health of the catch and food safety.
Habitat degradation and destruction, pollution, sediment run-off and urban development aff ect aquatic ecosystems and
the fi shing and aquaculture operations they support.
Globally, changing community values have placed the environmental performance of fi sheries under scrutiny. Th ere is a
need to better understand the eff ects of fi shing, aquaculture and other human activities on fi sh, aquatic habitats and
ecosystems with the goal of minimising their impacts.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• understanding key food webs that support fi sheries production and resilient aquatic ecosystems
• mitigating impacts of fi shing and aquaculture on threatened, endangered and protected species, and on ecosystems
• reducing bycatch and discards, and better utilising previously discarded catch
• understanding current responses and identifying behaviour modifi cation options (where necessary) for industry and
community in regard to ecosystem protection
• replacing and optimising the use of fi sh meal in aquaculture diets
• designing improved and standardised environmental monitoring and management systems and technologies
• mitigating human catchment and coastal activities on aquatic habitats that support fi shing and aquaculture activities,
including improved land management practices and mitigation of chemical pollution.
PAGE 31
Strategic research theme:Climate change — To develop knowledge, systems and processes to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change and variability
A changing climate poses both challenges and opportunities for Australia’s commercial wild-catch, aquaculture,
recreational and indigenous customary sectors, and the communities in which they are based. Many indirect and as yet
unforeseen impacts will change where and how people fi sh and farm in the future.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• understanding risk, opportunities and impacts of climate change on fi shing and aquaculture
• understanding the sensitivity and impacts of climate change on ecosystems, fi sh stocks and fi shing and aquaculture
communities
• understanding the adaptive capacity of stakeholders — both management and industry, and options to assist
adaptation
• developing tools to assist fi shing and aquaculture businesses and management to adapt to climate change
• understanding the eff ects of climate change policies such as an emissions trading scheme on the industry
• understanding and reducing the carbon foot print of industry.
Strategic research theme:Ecologically sustainable development — To develop knowledge, tools and processes to support responsible use and management of aquatic resources
Th e harvesting of wild fi sheries resources and development of aquaculture is conditional on management and production
processes that minimise ecosystem impacts, and ensures maximum value for the community from use of the aquatic
resource. Th e community’s focus has changed from single-issue measures, to taking into account broader environmental
and community interactions, and being cognisant of other users of the resource.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• developing technologies and models to underpin harvest strategy development, delivery and evaluation; including
for data poor fi sheries
• integrating social, environmental and economic considerations into fi sheries management strategies
• identifying and understanding community aquatic values and how these can be integrated into fi sheries management
• developing performance indicators, including social, ecological and economic
• understanding the infl uence of oceanographic and ecological factors on fi sheries — e.g. recruitment of fi sh stocks
• developing and adapting technologies and processes to better understand the impacts of aquaculture systems and to
quantify carrying capacity
• developing practical tools for EBFM, and incorporating them into fi sheries management plans
• implementation of environmental management systems, eco-labels and other schemes to foster user-stewardship of
the resource.
Strategic research theme:Governance and regulatory systems — To deliver good public policy outcomes with reduced complexity and cost
Good governance is recognised by stakeholders as essential to sustainable, profi table seafood industries and the fi shing
and aquaculture industry generally.
Regulatory systems need to be further developed to meet changing industry and community aspirations and to be more
fl exible to adapt quickly to changing conditions.
A key driver is to look at innovative, cost-eff ective means of fi sheries management that will also build cooperation and
trust between regulators and fi shers, and therefore confi dence for investors and the community. For the wild-catch sectors
this may include providing greater clarity in management objectives, more effi cient data collection systems for reporting
purposes (e.g. e-monitoring and log books), and research to support co-management, reduced complexity, cost-eff ective
survey techniques, and indigenous customary fi shing arrangements.
PAGE 32
Priority areas for RD&E:
• developing governance models for better accountability, increased delegation of management functions to industry,
and co-management
• developing and implementing tools and processes for data collection and monitoring to support fl exible, adaptive,
more responsive fi sheries management
• integrating monitoring and reporting systems so as to reduce costs and complexity
• developing effi cient multi-fi shery and multi-sector management arrangements in Australia’s bio-regions
• involving communities in fi sheries management at the local and regional level (e.g. clarifi cation of community and
stakeholder expectations, monitoring, decision-making and implementation)
• developing and implementing cost-eff ective compliance systems, including targeting and performance assessment
(technologies, incentives, disincentives and education).
Value chain outcome 2: Fishing and aquaculture are prosperous and viable
Strategic research theme:Resource access and allocation — To optimise resource access and allocation opportunities for each sector of the fi shing and aquaculture industry within a rights-based framework
Th ere is increasing competition for access to, and allocation of, aquatic resources. As society’s values and activities change,
there may be a need to adjust access and allocation of aquatic resources.
A signifi cant part of the management challenge is to develop adjustment mechanisms that adjust allocation access shares
between sectors, including access by non-extractive users.
Mechanisms to establish the economic, environmental and social value of activities, and processes to clearly establish the
access rights of users have been shown to improve management outcomes and reduce confl ict.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• developing and implementing methods for defi ning access rights and allocating shares
• developing and applying methods for valuing the resource (economically, socially and environmentally) for all sectors
• developing and applying adjustment and re-allocation mechanisms between sectors.
Strategic research theme:Growth and profi tability — To improve economic value and effi ciency
Growth and profi tability of the commercial wild-catch and aquaculture sectors depends on innovation and implementation
of technologies and processes to build effi ciencies along the supply chain.
Aquaculture has strong growth prospects and will focus on domestication and breeding genetics for disease resistance
and growth. Th e wild-catch sector has opportunities to improve operational effi ciencies and add value to the catch,
including through more effi cient use of untargeted retained catch.
Opportunities may exist for boutique or heritage fi shing operators in regional and urban areas, and some sections of the
recreational and indigenous customary sectors seek to generate growth and become profi table from tapping into other
markets such as regional tourism.
PAGE 33
Priority areas for RD&E:
• developing new technologies and innovative processes
• developing improved business models and building business modelling skills
• developing new business opportunities and new products, including non-seafood products such as bio-actives and
bio-fuels
• utilising domestication technologies for aquaculture species, particularly breeding genetics for disease resistance and
growth, climate change and market attributes
• supporting operational effi ciencies through improvements such as fuel effi ciency, hull and gear technologies, and
cost-eff ective technologies associated with compliance
• in the recreational sector, developing improved technology and knowledge to participate in recreational fi shing
activities.
Strategic research theme:Maximising value from aquatic resources — To enhance the social and personal value from fi shing and aquaculture resources
Value means diff erent things to diff erent sectors and it is important that all sectors of the fi shing and aquaculture industry
look for ways to maximise and improve the value of their resources, both for themselves and the general public.
In addition to the opportunities for increasing the economic value of the raw resources described under growth and
profi tability, there are also opportunities to improve the cultural, societal, spiritual, ceremonial and personal value enjoyed
from the aquatic environment by recreational and indigenous customary fi shers and by the broader community.
Value may also be enhanced through developing new methods to improve the productivity of the natural systems,
replenishing the resource, or creating new resources that can be accessed and used.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• identifying and understanding community values of the resource and building this into management strategies
• enhancing fi sheries through improved productivity of natural systems
• understanding the environmental interactions of stock enhancement technologies
• enhancing the recreational fi shing experience through stock enhancement and the application of structures to
enhance recruitment, including artifi cial reefs and snags
• understanding and enhancing indigenous customary fi shing activities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities.
Strategic research theme:Consumers and markets — To increase consumer satisfaction and build markets
Consumers are important stakeholders of the fi shing and aquaculture industry. For the commercial sector this means
creating a consistent high-quality product, in a desirable form, that has good shelf life and is delivered via cost-eff ective,
reliable mechanisms that deliver on consumers’ requirements and expectations. In addition, consumers, particularly in
OECD economies, are paying more attention to the food they eat, the value they get from it, and what it does for them
and for the world around them. Th is means that the commercial sector must increase its knowledge of markets and supply
chains, and look to develop new products specifi cally for their target market. Exploring and developing new niche export
markets and demonstrating quality and credence values (e.g. food safety, environmental sustainability, animal welfare)
will become increasingly important.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• maximising trade and market access opportunities
• understanding and responding to consumer trends and needs, including credence values, chain of custody and food
safety
• understanding and disseminating the health benefi ts of seafood
• improving supply chain effi ciencies and connectedness to the point of sale
• introducing consumers to new products.
PAGE 34
Value chain outcome 3: Fishing and aquaculture contribute to meeting recreational, indigenous customary, and community needs
Strategic research theme:Community support — To increase support for the benefi ts of the three main sectors of the fi shing and aquaculture industry
Th e Australian community has a long-established relationship with the commercial sector and the natural resources on
which it relies. However, the key drivers and motivations for the community can be very diff erent from those of the sector
because of joint use of and interest in these resources. Most people have some understanding of the health benefi ts of
seafood; but this is only one small aspect of the industry. Th is theme provides the community with the information for a
better understanding of the broader benefi ts of the industry.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• understanding community perceptions, the reasons for them, relation to reality, and the information needed to
infl uence them
• understanding the value of Australian commercial fi shing to the general public
• responding to community concerns about public health issues associated with seafood
• communicating the benefi ts and value of fi shers and fi shing (commercial, recreational and indigenous customary) to
the community.
Strategic research theme:Community resilience and development — To build strong supporting communities
Regional and rural communities are home to most of Australia’s primary industries. Th e long-term prosperity of many
communities is interwoven with that of the fi shing and aquaculture industry — and not only the commercial sector.
Developing a better understanding of the interactions between users, community and the resource, and how they aff ect
each other, is necessary before developing new strategies and approaches to minimise impacts and maximise social,
environmental and economic benefi ts.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• developing a better understanding of the interactions between fi shers and aquaculturists and the community
• understanding the social impacts of change within the industry’s business environments
• developing pathways to regional employment and community development (relevant to the commercial, recreational
and indigenous customary sectors)
• valuing, communicating and developing opportunities based on the cultural and heritage value of fi shing
• understanding the capacity of society to accept and incorporate higher levels of fi shing and aquaculture activity, and
how to assess and increase this carrying capacity
• understanding the nature and resilience of industry (social, demographic, economic and attitudinal) and identifying
methods to increase resilience and adaptability
• understanding and predicting behavioural responses to management approaches
• building social capital between industry, management and the community.
Cross value-chain enabling strategy: People development — To develop the capabilities of the people to whom the industry entrusts its future
Th e fi shing and aquaculture industry is geographically dispersed and fragmented, with a history of limited uptake of
formalised training. Workforce profi les and dynamics are poorly understood, and there is a decline in vocational and
post-secondary students entering related educational programs.. Th ese factors limit the industry’s ability to meet the
future need for technical, managerial, scientifi c, professional and semi-skilled people. Th e industry will need to learn from
other industries that have embraced a knowledge and innovation culture, and develop skills that will directly improve
business profi tability and sustainability. Strategic approaches to attracting people to the fi shing and aquaculture industry
are required, and business managers need the management skills necessary to retain and optimise the workforce.
Th ere is also a need to develop the skills and networks of leaders within all sectors to better understand the processes for
decision-making and implementing change, and having the capacity to contribute to these processes.
PAGE 35
Supporting the ability of all stakeholders to adapt to new circumstances and adopt innovations, technologies, and business
frameworks will be critical to maximising investment in research and development through adoption and extension
activities.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• understanding and identifying opportunities to meet regional workforce needs, including attraction and retention of
required technical, managerial, professional, semi-skilled and scientifi c capability
• identifying and understanding success drivers and factors in comparable industry and resultant opportunities for
fi sheries
• improving workplace health and safety
• developing the leadership skills across all stakeholder groups
• understanding and developing strategies to enhance, decision-making and adoption practices
• developing business and business modelling capability
• building stakeholder capacity to move toward co-management of fi sheries
• identifying and understanding factors that drive responsiveness or adoption of new practices and innovation and how
these can be infl uenced
• building skills and networks that support knowledge transfer and R&D adoption
• building understanding, and commonality of objectives, between stakeholders, including researchers, managers,
fi shers and NGOs.
Cross value-chain enabling strategy: Extension and adoption — To create positive practice and attitudinal change through information transfer
Th is enabling strategy is especially concerned with bringing about positive change through extension and adoption of
research outputs. Importantly, people involved in the change — the end-users of RD&E outputs — will be engaged in the
processes for extension design and delivery. Th e theme is closely linked with people development.
Th e value of research and development from domestic and international sources can be greatly enhanced through eff ective
management and delivery of adoption strategies. Th e main focus of the extension and adoption program is to ensure the
timely delivery of accessible and accurate information to all stakeholders, including governments, managers, industry, the
research community and the broader public.
Extension and adoption of research outputs also extends to the community. An example of public attitudes that are of
concern to the industry is the public perception of the fi shing and aquaculture industry’s environmental sustainability.
It is declining, despite signifi cant improvements in environmental performance of Australian fi sheries. Th is message
presents considerable challenges for all wild fi shers. Public perception and lack of trust also extends to aquaculture,
aff ecting the sector’s ability to gain access to new sites. Th e science and knowledge underpinning fi shing and aquaculture
decision-making needs to be clarifi ed and communicated well to policy makers, industry, the community and special
interest groups.
Priority areas for RD&E:
• identifying and understanding existing perceptions of fi shing activity and management
• developing the methods to communicate key information about the fi shing and aquaculture industry to the
community
• capturing and transferring knowledge from domestic and international sources to industry and managers
• demonstrating the value and link between RD&E and profi tability and sustainability
• understanding and designing appropriate communication and adoption and engagement systems for all sectors
• developing industry capacity to undertake adoption and extension
• evaluating the impacts and value of adoption and extension to continually improve performance.
PAGE 36
Key perform ance indicatorsTh e success of the strategy will be measured by how well it is being adopted, as evidenced by:
• number of research themes being addressed
• number of collaborative arrangements for the provision of fi shing and aquaculture RD&E that enhance the planned
outcomes
• trends in sharing of RD&E capabilities, and trends toward specialisation in fi shing and aquaculture RD&E
• progress against implementation milestones
• satisfaction in delivery of services and outcomes
• trends in engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in customary, commercial and recreational
fi shing and aquaculture RD&E activities
• how well RD&E that is directly attributable to the strategy, delivers on trends in:
– the unit value for seafood products
– community perceptions of the acceptability of fi shing in Australian waters
– participation in recreational fi shing
– engagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in cultural, commercial and recreational fi shing and
aquaculture RD&E activities
– numbers of fi sheries assessed as environmentally sustainable
– aquaculture production.
PAGE 37
INDICATORS
Assessment of capability to meet RD&E needsFull-time equivalent (FTE) staff working in each of the strategy’s identifi ed strategic research themes were calculated by
mapping areas of expertise, as assessed using the survey matrix (see appendix 1).
In summary, the following trends are evident.
Capability is currently adequate
Habitat and ecosystem protectionCurrent capability is adequate, with no signifi cant need for increased capability in the near term.
Climate changeCurrent capability is adequate, with no signifi cant need for increased capability in the near term. However, there are gaps
in capacity for adaptation and reduction of carbon footprint. Th ese capabilities are relevant to the people development
program.
Ecologically sustainable developmentCurrent capability is adequate, with no signifi cant need for increased capability in the near term.
Governance and regulatory systemsCurrent capability is adequate, but with a near-term need to increase capability, especially in increasing cost-eff ectiveness
of compliance with the increasingly complex ecosystem-focused, multi-fi shery, multi-sector regulatory environment.
Capability is currently inadequate
Biosecurity and aquatic animal healthCurrent capability is inadequate, with a near term need to increase capability especially in the area of fi sh veterinary and
pathology R&D.
Resource access and allocationCurrent capability is inadequate, with a near term need to increase capability especially in the area of social research to
determine cross-sector issues, including non-extractive user expectations and the economic contribution of recreational
and non-extractive user activity.
PAGE 38
ASSESSMENT
Growth and profi tabilityCurrent capability is inadequate, with a near term need to increase capability in the area of increasing input effi ciency of
wild-capture fi sheries and post-harvest value adding is indicated.
Maximising value from aquatic resourcesCurrent capability is inadequate with a near term need to increase capability especially in the areas of understanding how
value is perceived by non-commercial users and how this value can be increased.
Consumers and marketsCurrent capability is inadequate, with a near term need to increase capability especially in the areas of consumer trends
and needs and promoting to those needs.
Community supportCurrent capability is inadequate, with a near term need to increase capability especially in the areas of understanding and
promoting the health benefi ts of seafood, and the behaviours, motivations and expectations of all users of living marine
resources.
Community resilience and developmentCurrent capability is inadequate, with a near term need to increase capability especially in the areas of understanding
community needs and drivers and how the building of true and sustainable social capital can be supported by the fi sheries
and aquaculture sectors.
People developmentCurrent capability is inadequate, with a near term need to increase capability especially in the area of understanding
regional workforce drivers and needs, building capacity to adapt and innovate, and understanding the leadership gaps
and drivers for the aquaculture and fi sheries sectors.
Extension and adoptionCurrent capability is inadequate, with a near term need to increase local and regional capability especially in the area of
community understanding of and support for the aquaculture and commercial fi shery sectors and an increased industry
capacity to identify, commission and take up relevant outputs from R&D.
Addressing capability gapsFor the Australian fi shing and aquaculture industry to meet the challenges of the coming years increased RD&E capability
will be required in several key areas. Some of this increased capability could be met through increased delivery effi ciency
(e.g. consolidation and/or centralisation of expertise), or accessing capability currently working in other sectors. Th is
however, will not be enough.
Additional targeted, strategic investment will be required, particularly to encourage young, keen, skilled RD&E
practitioners into the disciplines areas that support the industry. Tertiary education is essential for the future of growth
in primary industry, but entry into these fi elds is in decline. According to the Corish Report9, the rate of decline of students
entering agricultural science fi elds is 9 per cent in the fi ve years to 2000 and a further 6 per cent in the four years to
2004. It should be noted that this trend appears consistent with the decline in enrolments in fi sheries and aquaculture
discipline areas.
PAGE 39
9 Corish, P. (2006), Creating our Future: Agriculture and Food Policy for the Next Generation, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Implementation structure and systemAn eff ective structure, agreed to by stakeholders, with appropriate supporting systems, is imperative to the successful
implementation and monitoring of the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy. Th is section describes the
structures and process by which the fi shing and aquaculture industry will:
• monitor and review long-term strategic RD&E needs and priorities
• promote and facilitate collaboration
• maximise sharing of capabilities and specialisation in RD&E
• monitor national RD&E capability
• improve extension capability
• monitor, evaluate and review the implementation of the strategy, and report to government and industry.
(It should be noted that the national fi shing and aquaculture RD&E strategy creates the environment to allow further
change to happen, but does not postulate the entirety of those changes.)
Sharing of capabilities and specialisation in RD&EA major driver for the National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension Framework is that RD&E
resources are fi nite and there is a need to rationalise delivery to make RD&E more effi cient. Th e framework proposes that
careful alignment of RD&E delivery will ensure that gaps in capability do not aff ect strategic areas of need.
For jurisdictions with signifi cant capability in a particular R&D fi eld and major industry, it may be determined that they
will take a major role and specialise in that fi eld of R&D. For another jurisdiction with lesser capability but with strategic
interest, it may be determined that it will take a supporting role in the provision of RD&E in that particular fi eld.
Jurisdictions without R&D capability in a particular R&D fi eld but still requiring R&D in that fi eld will link up, deriving
their R&D needs from jurisdictions with major capability.
When Primary Industries Standing Committee state and territory members were asked, during the development of this
strategy, to nominate who would “major, support or link (M-S-L)” in the provision of RD&E for fi shing and aquaculture,
all parties nominated a major role, including CSIRO. Th is is not surprising given the strong link between fi sheries science
and the provision of advice to jurisdictional ministers on wild-capture fi sheries management. Nevertheless, there was
recognition that within the intention to take a major role, this related to specifi c areas of the fi shing and aquaculture
industry. Some jurisdictions indicated major support for their regions (northern, southwestern or southeastern), or for
activity (recreational, indigenous, fi nfi sh aquaculture, and specifi c large fi sheries e.g. Abalone).
Th e strategy also recognises that there is a need to diff erentiate the particular needs of the various sectors, commercial,
recreational and indigenous where they have no common overlap. For example, the seafood supply chain is particular
only to the commercial fi shing and aquaculture industry.
PAGE 40
IMPLEMENTATION
Linking the national and the regional
To progress the implementation of M-S-L the stakeholders have indicated two mechanisms they would support.
Th e two mechanisms are:
1. Establish a regional approach that is consistent with the environmental distribution of major fi sheries. Th is is
diagrammatically shown in Figure 13. Th e diagram shows three regions, northern, southwestern and southeastern.
Th e lines are for demonstration only and would not refl ect the pragmatic approach to regional RD&E. For example
Southern Rocklobster has a distribution beyond the western border of the southeastern region.
2. Establish national areas of expertise that are based more on scientifi c disciplines or functional approaches. Stakeholders
have nominated that the intention is that species specifi c specialisation will occur at the regional level, and that at the
national level specialisation will occur around areas such as bio-security, ecosystem fi sheries models (e.g. Atlantis)
and seafood product development.
Th e Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
has agreed that it will adopt the above two mechanisms
in its RD&E investment policy. Th is will mean that
there will be a fi nancial incentive for organisations
to develop research around either regional or national
collaborations. FRDC’s policy will also support agreed
areas of specialisation, for example FRDC has been
working with South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria
to develop a single specialised approach to Southern
Rocklobster RD&E. FRDC supports jurisdictional
Fisheries Research Advisory Bodies (FRABs) that
will continue under the new strategy. Th e operating
instructions for FRABs will be changed to encourage
them to develop planning and evaluation process that
have a regional and national basis where appropriate.
Further, FRABs will be encouraged to support
specialised research organisations.
FIGURE 13: KEY STRUCTURES TO DELIVER AND MONITOR THE NATIONAL FISHING AND AQUACULTURE RD&E STRATEGY
Strengthening partnerships, building networksTh e implementation structure and system to deliver and monitor the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy
enhances government and industry relationships. Th e structure has a new emphasis on networking of research and
extension providers, which has been a signifi cant gap to date. In addition to a national priorities forum, the structure
includes a new extension network and research network. Th ese structures are described below.
Th is strategy recognises that many major collaborative arrangements already operate within and across regions. As
examples, the Department of Fisheries WA lists seven state-wide and 43 regionally based collaborative research projects;
and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Queensland lists about 60 collaborations
at the project level with other agencies (CSIRO, inter-state jurisdictions, universities), mostly within Australia but also
internationally. Th e South Australian Research and Development Institute has built strong collaborative partnerships with
other state fi sheries agencies, including DPI Victoria, NT Department of Resources, Innovation and Investment NSW,
and with national agencies such as CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research.
In progressing implementation, where existing arrangements are in place, and operating eff ectively, these will be supported.
Appendix 2 highlights examples of major cross-jurisdictional collaborative agreements.
PAGE 41
ResearchProvidersNetwork
ExtensionNetwork
SoutheasternregionSouthwestern
region
Northernregion
Primary IndustriesMinisterial Council
Primary IndustriesStanding Committee
Natural ResourceManagement Standing
Committee
NationalPrioritiesForum
Key structures
National Priorities Forum
FOCUS National RD&E strategy and issues
Foster an operating climate that encourages national and regional RD&E coordination and collaboration
ROLES A high level stakeholder partnership to:
• Set and review national RD&E priorities to ensure the strategy remains relevant to stakeholders
• Seek alignment / intersection of priorities among stakeholders
• Negotiate and consult on agreed Major-Support-Link positions for each jurisdiction
• Negotiate on capacity and RD&E investment decisions to deliver on national RD&E plan
• Foster existing and encourage new alliances and partnerships (national and regional)
• Support national and regional collaborative processes for planning, consultation, funding and delivery of RD&E
• Drive research concepts to address National RD&E plan themes
REPORTING Primary Industries Standing Committee / Primary Industries Ministerial Council
MEMBERSHIP • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander delegate
• Senior Offi cers of Commonwealth, State and Territory fi sheries agencies (or their senior delegate)*
• Commonwealth Fisheries Association
• Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
• National Aquaculture Council
• National Seafood Industry Alliance nominee
• Recfi sh Australia
• Chair of Researcher Providers’ Network**
Notes* Jurisdictions may choose whether or not to participate directly, subject to there being at least one lead agency
member from each of the three regions (Figure 13). Those jurisdictions that choose not to be a forum member may participate as an observer at forum meetings (i.e. to keep abreast of any emerging proposals), but are otherwise expected to build and maintain a close working relationship with the relevant regional representatives. (NB. Each jurisdiction retains sovereign authority to endorse, or otherwise, the forum’s recommendations.)
** In the fi rst year of implementation CSIRO will Chair the Researcher Providers’ network
Forum meetings are open to other interested parties, at own cost.
Membership will be reviewed after fi rst year of implementation
Membership may be adjusted to achieve Forum’s roles, and this may include broadening membership
CHAIR Independent Chair, to be nominated by the Strategy Working Group
Independent Chair role will be reviewed after fi rst year of implementation
FUNDING / SUPPORT
FRDC to provide administrative and fi nancial support to facilitate implementation and ongoing services to the strategy, and industry attendance at meetings
MEETS Two to four times in the fi rst year, then twice annually in conjunction with AFMF meetings where possible
PAGE 42
FIRST YEAR ACTIONS
Development of possible national and regional processes, governance arrangements for collaboration, including funding of activities
Negotiate and consult to confi rm Major-Support-Link relationships
Align fi sheries and aquaculture priorities, and actions to address, with relevant cross-sectoral plans
Develop reporting framework
Develop refi nements to RD&E funding model to encourage national and regional consolidation and/or specialisation
Organise National Fishing and Aquaculture Extension Network Forum
Organise National Fishing and Aquaculture Research Provider Network Forum
Develop strategy for improved representation and engagement with all sectors, and in particular indigenous stakeholders
Oversee communications for strategy implementation
Report to PISC, communicate with NRMSC
Research Providers Network
FOCUS Encourage and foster existing and new regional RD&E coordination and collaboration, and optimise RD&E resource sharing
ROLES Negotiate on capacity and infrastructure investment decisions to deliver on national RD&E plan
Establish international linkages
Determine the research needed and develop research concepts to address themes of the national RD&E plan
Seek opportunities to improve extension and adoption of research outcomes
REPORTING Reports to National Priorities Forum
MEMBERSHIP Research heads of state agencies, CSIRO, BRS, AIMS, universities, FRDC, Extension Network representative, Chair AFMF SSR, private providers, other research organisations, DAFF, NCCARF, CERF; nominee of NSIA
(Membership may be adjusted to achieve the network’s roles)
RESPONSIBILITY National Priorities Forum, members
Nominated chair (In the fi rst year of implementation CSIRO will Chair the network)
FUNDING / SUPPORT
FRDC support for industry attendance in the fi rst year
MEETS Annually
Scope to meet regionally or on the basis of common interest in a particular research theme
PAGE 43
Extension Network
FOCUS Enhance adoption and extension of R&D outcomes
ROLE Scan current and completed research and collaborate with FRDC and research providers to develop high-impact extension and adoption strategies
Deliver funded strategies
Identify opportunities to develop network capacity and skills of extension professionals
Provide advice and guidance to the FRDC People Development Program on development programs to support adoption outcomes
REPORTING Reports to National Priorities Forum
Advises regional forums, FRDC
MEMBERSHIP State agencies, FRDC, SeaNet, SSA, universities and vocational training providers, discovery centres, Research Network representative, AFMF communicators, NAC, CFA, RA, NSIA representatives
RESPONSIBILITY National Priorities Forum and members
Rotating nominated chair
FUNDING / SUPPORT
FRDC support for industry attendance in the fi rst year
MEETS Annually
PAGE 44
Consultation and approvalsTh is Strategy was approved by the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) on 23 April 2010. In the lead up to
approval, the draft strategy was recommended by the Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC) and endorsed by
all state governments and the Northern Territory, DAFF, CSIRO and AFMA. Industry bodies — the Commonwealth
Fisheries Association, National Aquaculture Council, Recfi shing Australia, and the National Seafood Industry Alliance,
provided endorsement with comments that highlight important issues that will be worked through as part of the Strategy’s
implementation.
Key stakeholdersKey stakeholders in the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy are:
Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Commonwealth Fisheries Association
Commonwealth Scientifi c and Industrial Research Organisation
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Queensland
Department of Fisheries, Western Australia
Department of Primary Industries, Victoria
Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania
Department of Resources NT
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Industry and Investment NSW
National Aquaculture Council
National Seafood Industry Alliance
Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
Recfi sh Australia
PAGE 45
APPROVALS
AgreementTh e key stakeholders agree to work collaboratively and cooperatively to develop and implement the National Fishing and
Aquaculture RD&E Strategy by:
• freely sharing the knowledge generated by publicly funded RD&E eff ort and minimising barriers to RD&E eff ort
created by intellectual property protection
• providing timely and ready access to knowledge and information to facilitate extension and adoption of research to
all potential end-users
• working collaboratively to improve access to national research capability (people and infrastructure) by industry and
R&D partners across Australia
• working cooperatively to improve the administrative processes and eff ectiveness of information sharing and
management
• encouraging, and wherever possible supporting, engagement by all stakeholder groups in the implementation of the
strategy
• working collaboratively with stakeholders and other RD&E providers and jurisdictions to address stakeholder RD&E
priorities, and retain and build national capability to address future needs
• building on existing RD&E evaluation frameworks to develop monitoring and evaluation criteria to review the
performance of the strategy
• encouraging and fostering regional RD&E coordination and collaboration
• contributing to an annual report on progress toward achieving the outcomes sought from the strategy and identifying
solutions to overcoming identifi ed blockages or delays to achieving them
• within three years from commencement, contributing to an independent review of the strategy, including the
eff ectiveness in achieving its stated outcomes.
PAGE 46
Implementation stepsTh e next steps in the implementation of the strategy are as follows.
Planned delivery date
Action Responsible parties /working groups
1 April 2010 Strategy approved by PIMC Strategy working group to table
3 May 2010 First meeting of National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Priorities Forum
Key initial tasks (to be delivered subsequently):
• Alignment of strategy and jurisdictional research priorities, and actions to address, with relevant cross-sectoral plans
• Develop reporting framework
• Develop refi nements to funding model to reinforce regional collaboration, consolidation and specialisation
• Organise National Fishing and Aquaculture Extension Network Forum
• Organise National Fishing and Aquaculture Research Provider Network Forum
• Oversight of sectoral communications about strategy implementation
• Confi rm reporting requirements and timelines
National Priorities Forum
30 June 2010 • Develop criteria and transitional arrangements for RD&E consolidation and specialisation by providers
• Develop regional case studies (Southern Rocklobster for southeastern, Bight Redfi sh for southwestern / Common wealth, pearls for northern region)
National Priorities Forum
1 August 2010 Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Fishing scoped and funded FRDC / Department of Resources NT
1 September 2010 First meeting of Research Provider Forum Nominated network chair / FRDC
1 November 2010 First meeting of Fishing and Aquaculture Extension Forum FRDC / SeaNet / nominated industry council
PAGE 47
IMPLEMENTATION
Planned delivery date
Action Responsible parties /working groups
1 July 2011 Progress Report to PISC and others National Priorities Forum
1 July 2011 Agreement on which organisations will specialise in which research areas in each region
• Set criteria for specialisation
• Develop process/contractual agreements for services to be provided
• Possible areas for specialisation are nutrition, genetics, aquatic animal health and gear research. These are areas of research that have clear lead agencies and that are achievable early
National Priorities Forum, and involving research providers and stakeholders in each region
1 July 2011 FRDC funding model adjusted to encourage and support collaboration aligned with the strategy
FRDC
PAGE 48
App
endi
x 1:
Cur
rent
and
fut
ure
fi shi
ng a
nd a
quac
ultu
re c
apab
ility
to
add
ress
str
ateg
ic re
sear
ch t
hem
es
Dat
a co
llec
ted
in
th
e ca
pab
ilit
y su
rvey
was
map
ped
aga
inst
th
e fi
nd
ings
of
the
rela
ted
Rid
ge P
artn
ers
stu
dy
— O
verv
iew
of t
he
Au
stra
lia
n
Fis
hin
g a
nd
Aqu
acu
ltu
re I
nd
ust
ry: p
rese
nt
an
d f
utu
re (
201
0) a
s a
mea
ns
of
asse
ssin
g w
het
her
cu
rren
t R
D&
E c
apab
ilit
y ag
ain
st e
ach
of
the
Fis
hin
g an
d A
qu
acu
ltu
re R
D&
E S
trat
egy
rese
arch
th
eme
is c
urr
entl
y “a
deq
uat
e” o
r “i
nad
equ
ate”
, an
d w
het
her
an
in
crea
se i
n R
D&
E
cap
acit
y w
ill
be
req
uir
ed i
n t
he
sho
rt (
1–5
year
) o
r m
ediu
m (
5–1
0 ye
ar)
term
. Th
e
resu
ltin
g an
alys
is w
as f
urt
her
tes
ted
by
agen
cy h
ead
s
and
ap
pro
xim
atel
y 2
0 o
ther
no
min
ated
ex
per
ts. N
ote
: dat
a in
clu
des
ass
oci
ated
en
vir
on
men
t an
d e
cosy
stem
fi e
lds
of
rese
arch
.
Stra
teg
ic r
esea
rch
th
eme
(SR
T)Cu
rren
t fu
ll-ti
me
equi
vale
nt
(FTE
)
Tren
ds
and
futu
re s
ecto
r re
qu
irem
ents
an
d p
rio
rity
res
earc
h to
pic
s (b
ased
on
dat
a fr
om
cap
abili
ty a
ud
it, t
he
rela
ted
Rid
ge
Part
ner
s se
cto
r “O
verv
iew
” an
d th
e d
raft
Fis
her
ies
and
Aq
uac
ultu
re R
D&
E St
rate
gy)
Cap
abili
ty a
sses
smen
t
Now
1 to
5 ye
ars
5 to
10 y
ears
Bio
secu
rity
an
d
aqu
atic
an
imal
hea
lth
37.1
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• Ta
xono
my;
Fis
herie
s bi
olog
y / E
colo
gy; A
quat
ic a
nim
al h
ealth
.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• En
hanc
ing
our
know
ledg
e of
pes
ts a
nd d
isea
ses
of c
omm
erci
al c
onse
quen
ce [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• R
&D
to
supp
ort
chan
ges
to B
iose
curit
y A
ustr
alia
pol
icie
s an
d pr
oces
ses
that
impr
ove
mar
ket
acce
ss
and
prot
ect
Aus
tral
ian
indu
strie
s fr
om d
isea
se in
curs
ions
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• Re
duci
ng p
est
and
dise
ase
impa
cts
on fi
shin
g an
d aq
uacu
lture
bus
ines
ses
and
the
envi
ronm
ent
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• D
evel
opin
g ca
pabi
lity,
tec
hnol
ogy
and
proc
esse
s to
det
ect,
pre
vent
and
res
pond
to
aqua
tic a
nim
al
heal
th p
atho
gens
and
min
imis
e ris
ks t
hrou
gh t
rans
loca
tion
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• R
&D
to
supp
ort
chan
ges
to A
PVM
A p
olic
ies
and
proc
esse
s th
at p
rovi
de f
or im
prov
ed a
cces
s to
fi t
for
purp
ose
chem
ical
s [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
Inadequate
���
��
�
PAGE 49
APPENDIX 1
Stra
teg
ic r
esea
rch
th
eme
(SR
T)Cu
rren
t fu
ll-ti
me
equi
vale
nt
(FTE
)
Tren
ds
and
futu
re s
ecto
r re
qu
irem
ents
an
d p
rio
rity
res
earc
h to
pic
s (b
ased
on
dat
a fr
om
cap
abili
ty a
ud
it, t
he
rela
ted
Rid
ge
Part
ner
s se
cto
r “O
verv
iew
” an
d th
e d
raft
Fis
her
ies
and
Aq
uac
ultu
re R
D&
E St
rate
gy)
Cap
abili
ty a
sses
smen
t
Now
1 to
5 ye
ars
5 to
10 y
ears
Hab
itat
an
d
eco
syst
em p
rote
ctio
n13
6.0
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• Ta
xono
my;
Fis
herie
s bi
olog
y / E
colo
gy; D
ata
man
agem
ent
/ Pro
gram
min
g; S
take
hold
er s
urve
ys /
Logb
ooks
; Fis
h su
rvey
s; B
iom
etric
s / S
tatis
tics;
Fis
herie
s m
odel
ling;
Aqu
atic
ani
mal
hea
lth;
Envi
ronm
enta
l im
pact
s (in
clud
ing
byca
tch)
; Oce
anog
raph
y; H
ydro
logy
; Che
mis
try
/ Bio
geoc
hem
istr
y;
Hab
itat
map
ping
; Ben
thic
eco
logy
; Fre
shw
ater
eco
logy
; Eco
syst
em m
odel
ling;
Gea
r te
chno
logy
; O
bser
vatio
nal t
echn
olog
y.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• U
nder
stan
ding
key
foo
d w
ebs
that
sup
port
fi sh
erie
s pr
oduc
tion
and
resi
lient
aqu
atic
eco
syst
ems
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• M
itiga
ting
impa
cts
of fi
shin
g on
thr
eate
ned,
end
ange
red
and
prot
ecte
d sp
ecie
s [C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• Re
duci
ng b
y-ca
tch
and
disc
ards
, and
bet
ter
utili
satio
n of
pre
viou
sly
disc
arde
d ca
tch
[CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• Re
plac
ing
/ opt
imis
ing
the
use
of fi
sh m
eal i
n aq
uacu
lture
die
ts [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
]
• D
esig
ning
impr
oved
and
sta
ndar
dise
d en
viro
nmen
tal m
onito
ring
and
man
agem
ent
syst
ems
and
tech
nolo
gies
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE}
• M
itiga
ting
hum
an c
atch
men
t an
d co
asta
l act
iviti
es o
n aq
uatic
hab
itats
, inc
ludi
ng h
abita
t re
habi
litat
ion
and
impr
oved
land
man
agem
ent
prac
tices
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
Adequate
��
��
��
Clim
ate
chan
ge
119.
1
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• Ta
xono
my;
Fis
herie
s bi
olog
y / E
colo
gy; D
ata
man
agem
ent
/ Pro
gram
min
g; S
take
hold
er s
urve
ys /
Logb
ooks
; Fis
h su
rvey
s; B
iom
etric
s / S
tatis
tics;
Fis
herie
s m
odel
ling;
Aqu
atic
ani
mal
hea
lth; B
iose
curit
y;
Envi
ronm
enta
l im
pact
s (in
clud
ing
byca
tch)
; Oce
anog
raph
y; H
ydro
logy
; Che
mis
try
/ Bio
geoc
hem
istr
y;
Hab
itat
map
ping
; Ben
thic
eco
logy
; Fre
shw
ater
eco
logy
; Eco
syst
em m
odel
ling;
Soc
ial i
mpa
ct a
nd
asse
ssm
ent;
Obs
erva
tiona
l tec
hnol
ogy.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• U
nder
stan
ding
ris
k, o
ppor
tuni
ties
and
impa
cts
of c
limat
e ch
ange
on
fi she
ries
and
aqua
cultu
re
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• U
nder
stan
ding
the
sen
sitiv
ity a
nd im
pact
s of
clim
ate
chan
ge o
n ec
osys
tem
s, fi
sh s
tock
s an
d fi s
hing
co
mm
uniti
es [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• U
nder
stan
ding
the
ada
ptiv
e ca
paci
ty o
f st
akeh
olde
rs —
bot
h m
anag
emen
t an
d in
dust
ry [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• D
evel
opin
g to
ols
to a
ssis
t fi s
herie
s an
d aq
uacu
lture
bus
ines
ses
and
man
agem
ent
to a
dapt
to
clim
ate
chan
ge [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
red
ucin
g th
e ca
rbon
foo
t pr
int
of in
dust
ry [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
Adequate
��
��
��
PAGE 50
Stra
teg
ic r
esea
rch
th
eme
(SR
T)Cu
rren
t fu
ll-ti
me
equi
vale
nt
(FTE
)
Tren
ds
and
futu
re s
ecto
r re
qu
irem
ents
an
d p
rio
rity
res
earc
h to
pic
s (b
ased
on
dat
a fr
om
cap
abili
ty a
ud
it, t
he
rela
ted
Rid
ge
Part
ner
s se
cto
r “O
verv
iew
” an
d th
e d
raft
Fis
her
ies
and
Aq
uac
ultu
re R
D&
E St
rate
gy)
Cap
abili
ty a
sses
smen
t
Now
1 to
5 ye
ars
5 to
10 y
ears
Eco
log
ical
ly s
ust
ain
able
d
evel
op
men
t25
5.0
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• Ta
xono
my;
Fis
herie
s bi
olog
y / E
colo
gy; D
ata
man
agem
ent
/ Pro
gram
min
g; S
take
hold
er s
urve
ys /
Logb
ooks
; Fis
h su
rvey
s; B
iom
etric
s / S
tatis
tics;
Fis
herie
s m
odel
ling;
Env
ironm
enta
l im
pact
s (in
clud
ing
byca
tch)
; Oce
anog
raph
y; H
ydro
logy
; Che
mis
try
/ Bio
geoc
hem
istr
y; H
abita
t m
appi
ng; B
enth
ic e
colo
gy;
Fres
hwat
er e
colo
gy; E
cosy
stem
mod
ellin
g; O
bser
vatio
nal t
echn
olog
y; E
cono
mic
sur
veyi
ng; E
cono
mic
as
sess
men
t; S
ocia
l ass
essm
ent;
Eco
nom
ic m
odel
ling.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• D
evel
opin
g an
d im
plem
entin
g ef
fi cie
nt a
nd e
ffec
tive
data
col
lect
ion
and
mon
itorin
g pr
oces
ses
(e.g
. ele
ctro
nic
log
book
s, fi
sher
y de
pend
ent
data
, rem
ote
obse
rvat
ion
syst
ems)
[CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• D
evel
opin
g te
chno
logi
es a
nd m
odel
s to
und
erpi
n ha
rves
t st
rate
gy d
evel
opm
ent,
del
iver
y an
d ev
alua
tion;
incl
udin
g fo
r da
ta p
oor
fi she
ries
[CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• In
tegr
atin
g so
cial
, env
ironm
enta
l and
eco
nom
ic c
onsi
dera
tions
into
fi sh
erie
s m
anag
emen
t st
rate
gies
[A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• D
evel
opin
g pe
rfor
man
ce in
dica
tors
— in
clud
ing
soci
al, e
colo
gica
l and
eco
nom
ic [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• U
nder
stan
ding
the
infl u
ence
of
ocea
nogr
aphi
c an
d ec
olog
ical
fac
tors
on
fi she
ries
e.g.
rec
ruitm
ent
of fi
sh s
tock
s [C
OM
MER
CIA
L, R
ECRE
ATI
ON
AL,
CU
STO
MA
RY]
• D
evel
opin
g te
chno
logi
es a
nd p
roce
sses
to
bett
er u
nder
stan
d th
e im
pact
s of
aqu
acul
ture
sys
tem
s an
d to
qua
ntify
car
ryin
g ca
paci
ty [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
]
• D
evel
opin
g pr
actic
al t
ools
for
EBF
M, a
nd in
corp
orat
ing
them
into
fi sh
erie
s m
anag
emen
t pl
ans
[CO
MM
ERC
IAL,
REC
REA
TIO
NA
L, C
UST
OM
ARY
]
• Im
plem
enta
tion
of e
nviro
nmen
tal m
anag
emen
t sy
stem
s, e
co-la
bels
and
oth
er s
chem
es t
o fo
ster
us
er-s
tew
ards
hip
of t
he r
esou
rce
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
Adequate
��
��
��
PAGE 51
Stra
teg
ic r
esea
rch
th
eme
(SR
T)Cu
rren
t fu
ll-ti
me
equi
vale
nt
(FTE
)
Tren
ds
and
futu
re s
ecto
r re
qu
irem
ents
an
d p
rio
rity
res
earc
h to
pic
s (b
ased
on
dat
a fr
om
cap
abili
ty a
ud
it, t
he
rela
ted
Rid
ge
Part
ner
s se
cto
r “O
verv
iew
” an
d th
e d
raft
Fis
her
ies
and
Aq
uac
ultu
re R
D&
E St
rate
gy)
Cap
abili
ty a
sses
smen
t
Now
1 to
5 ye
ars
5 to
10 y
ears
Go
vern
ance
an
d
reg
ula
tory
sys
tem
s57
.6
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• Fi
sher
ies
asse
ssm
ent;
Eco
syst
em m
odel
ling;
Eco
nom
ic s
urve
ying
; Eco
nom
ic a
sses
smen
t; S
ocia
l su
rvey
ing
and
asse
ssm
ents
; Eco
nom
ic m
odel
ling;
Gov
erna
nce
and
man
agem
ent;
Fis
herie
s la
w;
Inte
rnat
iona
l gov
erna
nce
and
man
agem
ent.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• D
evel
opin
g de
lega
tion
and
acco
unta
bilit
y go
vern
ance
mod
els
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• D
evel
opin
g to
ols
and
tech
niqu
es t
o su
ppor
t fl e
xibl
e, a
dapt
ive
and
mor
e re
spon
sive
fi sh
erie
s m
anag
emen
t [C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• R
&D
to
supp
ort
the
deve
lopm
ent
of f
orm
al a
rran
gem
ents
for
res
pond
ing
to d
isas
ters
and
bio
secu
rity
emer
genc
ies
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• In
tegr
atin
g m
onito
ring
and
repo
rtin
g sy
stem
s so
as
to r
educ
e co
sts
and
com
plex
ity [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
,
CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• D
evel
opin
g ef
fi cie
nt m
ulti-
fi she
ry a
nd m
ulti-
sect
or m
anag
emen
t ar
rang
emen
ts in
Aus
tral
ia’s
bi
oreg
ions
[CO
MM
ERC
IAL,
REC
REA
TIO
NA
L, C
UST
OM
ARY
]
• In
volv
ing
com
mun
ities
in fi
sher
ies
man
agem
ent
at t
he lo
cal a
nd r
egio
nal l
evel
(e.
g. m
onito
ring,
de
cisi
on m
akin
g an
d im
plem
enta
tion)
[CO
MM
ERC
IAL,
REC
REA
TIO
NA
L, C
UST
OM
ARY
]
• D
evel
opin
g an
d im
plem
entin
g co
st e
ffec
tive
com
plia
nce
syst
ems,
incl
udin
g ta
rget
ing
and
perf
orm
ance
ass
essm
ent
(ince
ntiv
es/d
isin
cent
ives
and
edu
catio
n) [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
Adequate
���
��
�
Res
ou
rce
acce
ss
and
allo
cati
on
27.4
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• St
akeh
olde
r su
rvey
s / L
ogbo
oks;
Bio
met
rics
/ Sta
tistic
s; F
ishe
ries
asse
ssm
ent;
Res
ourc
es a
lloca
tion;
Ec
onom
ic s
urve
ying
; Eco
nom
ic a
sses
smen
t; E
cono
mic
mod
ellin
g; S
ocia
l sur
veyi
ng /
Ass
essm
ent
and
mod
ellin
g.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• D
evel
opin
g an
d im
plem
entin
g m
etho
ds f
or d
efi n
ing
acce
ss r
ight
s an
d al
loca
ting
shar
es [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• Id
entif
ying
com
petin
g va
lues
and
neg
otia
ting
acce
ptab
le o
utco
mes
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• D
evel
opin
g sy
stem
s an
d m
odel
s to
und
erpi
n aq
uacu
lture
pla
nnin
g an
d de
velo
pmen
t, in
clud
ing
for
data
poo
r en
viro
nmen
ts a
nd s
yste
ms
and
whe
re in
tera
ctio
ns w
ith fi
sher
ies
are
likel
y to
occ
ur
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• D
evel
opin
g an
d ap
plyi
ng m
etho
ds f
or v
alui
ng t
he r
esou
rce
for
all s
ecto
rs [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• D
evel
opin
g an
d ap
plyi
ng a
djus
tmen
t an
d re
-allo
catio
n m
echa
nism
s be
twee
n se
ctor
s [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
Inadequate
������
��
�
PAGE 52
Stra
teg
ic r
esea
rch
th
eme
(SR
T)Cu
rren
t fu
ll-ti
me
equi
vale
nt
(FTE
)
Tren
ds
and
futu
re s
ecto
r re
qu
irem
ents
an
d p
rio
rity
res
earc
h to
pic
s (b
ased
on
dat
a fr
om
cap
abili
ty a
ud
it, t
he
rela
ted
Rid
ge
Part
ner
s se
cto
r “O
verv
iew
” an
d th
e d
raft
Fis
her
ies
and
Aq
uac
ultu
re R
D&
E St
rate
gy)
Cap
abili
ty a
sses
smen
t
Now
1 to
5 ye
ars
5 to
10 y
ears
Gro
wth
an
d p
rofi
tab
ility
158.
7
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• H
atch
ery
/ Nur
sery
; Gro
wou
t / P
rodu
ctio
n; B
rood
stoc
k m
anag
emen
t; F
eed
and
nutr
ition
; Gen
etic
s an
d ge
nom
ics;
Aqu
acul
ture
sys
tem
s an
d po
lycu
lture
; Gea
r te
chno
logy
; Aqu
atic
eng
inee
ring;
Ec
onom
ic s
urve
ying
; Eco
nom
ic a
sses
smen
t; E
cono
mic
mod
ellin
g; S
ocia
l (im
pact
) ass
essm
ents
; Soc
ial
surv
eyin
g; C
omm
erci
alis
atio
n; S
eafo
od p
roce
ssin
g; S
eafo
od s
afet
y.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• D
evel
opin
g im
prov
ed b
usin
ess
mod
els,
and
bui
ldin
g bu
sine
ss m
odel
ling
skill
s [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• Id
entif
ying
sup
port
ive
com
mun
ities
/env
ironm
ents
for
new
bus
ines
s en
deav
ours
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE,
CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• D
evel
opin
g ne
w b
usin
ess
oppo
rtun
ities
and
new
pro
duct
s, in
clud
ing
non-
seaf
ood
prod
ucts
suc
h as
bi
o-a
ctiv
es a
nd b
io-f
uels
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• D
omes
ticat
ion
tech
nolo
gies
for
aqu
acul
ture
spe
cies
, par
ticul
arly
bre
edin
g ge
netic
s fo
r di
seas
e re
sist
ance
and
gro
wth
, clim
ate
chan
ge a
nd m
arke
t at
trib
utes
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE]
• Su
ppor
ting
oper
atio
nal e
ffi c
ienc
ies
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
– Fu
el e
ffi c
ienc
y–
Hul
l des
ign
– A
nti-f
oula
nt t
echn
olog
ies
– Re
duci
ng f
resh
wat
er u
se in
the
pro
cess
ing
sect
or–
Gea
r te
chno
logi
es t
o re
duce
cos
ts
– Te
chno
logi
cal d
evel
opm
ent
for
cost
-eff
ectiv
e co
mpl
ianc
e
Inadequate
���
��
�
Max
imis
ing
val
ue
fro
m
aqu
atic
res
ou
rces
4.4
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• In
dige
nous
stu
dies
; Soc
iolo
gy; E
cono
mic
sur
veyi
ng; E
cono
mic
ass
essm
ent;
Eco
nom
ic m
odel
ling.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• En
hanc
ing
fi she
ries
thro
ugh
impr
oved
pro
duct
ivity
of
natu
ral s
yste
ms
[CO
MM
ERC
IAL,
REC
REA
TIO
NA
L,
CU
STO
MA
RY]
• En
hanc
ing
the
recr
eatio
nal fi
shi
ng e
xper
ienc
e th
roug
h st
ock
enha
ncem
ent
and
the
appl
icat
ion
of
stru
ctur
es t
o en
hanc
e re
crui
tmen
t, in
clud
ing
artifi
cia
l ree
fs a
nd s
nags
[REC
REA
TIO
NA
L]
• U
nder
stan
ding
the
env
ironm
enta
l int
erac
tions
of
stoc
k en
hanc
emen
t te
chno
logi
es [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
enh
anci
ng p
erso
nal,
dom
estic
and
non
-com
mer
cial
com
mun
al (
incl
udin
g so
cial
, cu
ltura
l, re
ligio
us, s
pirit
ual a
nd c
erem
onia
l pur
pose
s) fi
shin
g ac
tiviti
es in
Abo
rigin
al a
nd T
orre
s St
rait
Isla
nder
com
mun
ities
[CU
STO
MA
RY]
Inadequate
������
��
�
PAGE 53
Stra
teg
ic r
esea
rch
th
eme
(SR
T)Cu
rren
t fu
ll-ti
me
equi
vale
nt
(FTE
)
Tren
ds
and
futu
re s
ecto
r re
qu
irem
ents
an
d p
rio
rity
res
earc
h to
pic
s (b
ased
on
dat
a fr
om
cap
abili
ty a
ud
it, t
he
rela
ted
Rid
ge
Part
ner
s se
cto
r “O
verv
iew
” an
d th
e d
raft
Fis
her
ies
and
Aq
uac
ultu
re R
D&
E St
rate
gy)
Cap
abili
ty a
sses
smen
t
Now
1 to
5 ye
ars
5 to
10 y
ears
Co
nsu
mer
s an
d m
arke
ts9.
5
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• Pr
oduc
tivity
and
mar
ket
anal
ysis
; Mar
ket
acce
ss a
nd t
rade
; Sea
food
pro
cess
ing;
Sea
food
saf
ety.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• D
evel
opin
g kn
owle
dge
of c
onsu
mer
tre
nds
and
need
s [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• M
axim
isin
g tr
ade
and
mar
ket
acce
ss o
ppor
tuni
ties
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
res
pond
ing
to t
he n
eeds
of
the
cons
umer
, inc
ludi
ng c
rede
nce
valu
es,
chai
n of
cus
tody
and
foo
d sa
fety
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• Im
prov
ing
supp
ly c
hain
effi
cie
ncie
s [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• In
trod
ucin
g co
nsum
ers
to n
ew p
rodu
cts
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L, C
UST
OM
ARY
]
Inadequate
������
��
�
Co
mm
un
ity
sup
po
rt2.
7
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• A
nthr
opol
ogy;
Indi
geno
us s
tudi
es; S
ocio
logy
; Sea
food
saf
ety.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
pro
mot
ing
heal
th b
enefi
ts
of s
eafo
od [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
res
pond
ing
to c
onsu
mer
s be
liefs
reg
ardi
ng t
he s
usta
inab
ility
of
the
Aus
tral
ian
fi she
ries
reso
urce
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• Re
spon
ding
to
com
mun
ity c
once
rns
rega
rdin
g pu
blic
hea
lth a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith s
eafo
od [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
,
CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
com
mun
icat
ing
the
inte
ract
ions
bet
wee
n re
crea
tiona
l and
cus
tom
ary
fi shi
ng
and
bios
ecur
ity, t
he e
nviro
nmen
t an
d ot
her
aqua
tic e
nviro
nmen
t us
ers
and
man
agin
g th
ose
effe
cts
whe
re n
eces
sary
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• U
nder
stan
ding
the
beh
avio
urs,
mot
ivat
ions
and
exp
ecta
tions
of
fi she
rs a
nd a
quac
ultu
ralis
ts
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
com
mun
icat
ing
the
bene
fi ts
and
valu
e of
rec
reat
iona
l and
cus
tom
ary
fi shi
ng
lifes
tyle
s to
the
com
mun
ity [R
ECRE
ATI
ON
AL,
CU
STO
MA
RY]
• To
und
erst
and
and
com
mun
icat
e th
e be
nefi t
s an
d va
lue
of fi
sher
s an
d fi s
hing
(co
mm
erci
al,
recr
eatio
nal a
nd c
usto
mar
y) in
the
com
mun
ity, f
amily
and
at
the
indi
vidu
al le
vels
[CO
MM
ERC
IAL,
REC
REA
TIO
NA
L, C
UST
OM
ARY
]
Inadequate
������
��
�
PAGE 54
Stra
teg
ic r
esea
rch
th
eme
(SR
T)Cu
rren
t fu
ll-ti
me
equi
vale
nt
(FTE
)
Tren
ds
and
futu
re s
ecto
r re
qu
irem
ents
an
d p
rio
rity
res
earc
h to
pic
s (b
ased
on
dat
a fr
om
cap
abili
ty a
ud
it, t
he
rela
ted
Rid
ge
Part
ner
s se
cto
r “O
verv
iew
” an
d th
e d
raft
Fis
her
ies
and
Aq
uac
ultu
re R
D&
E St
rate
gy)
Cap
abili
ty a
sses
smen
t
Now
1 to
5 ye
ars
5 to
10 y
ears
Co
mm
un
ity
resi
lien
ce
and
dev
elo
pm
ent
1.5
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• A
nthr
opol
ogy;
Dem
ogra
phy;
Indi
geno
us s
tudi
es; S
ocio
logy
.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• D
evel
opin
g pa
thw
ays
to r
egio
nal e
mpl
oym
ent
and
com
mun
ity d
evel
opm
ent
(thi
s is
rel
evan
t to
all
of r
ecre
atio
n, w
ild-c
atch
, and
indi
geno
us s
ecto
rs) [
CO
MM
ERC
IAL,
REC
REA
TIO
NA
L, C
UST
OM
ARY
]
• To
val
ue, c
omm
unic
ate
and
deve
lop
oppo
rtun
ities
bas
ed a
roun
d fi s
hing
her
itage
and
em
ergi
ng
tech
nolo
gies
and
indu
strie
s [C
OM
MER
CIA
L, R
ECRE
ATI
ON
AL,
CU
STO
MA
RY]
• R
&D
to
supp
ort
plan
ning
for
rec
over
y fr
om b
iose
curit
y em
erge
ncie
s, n
atur
al d
isas
ters
or
othe
r em
erge
ncie
s [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• U
nder
stan
ding
the
cap
acity
of
soci
ety
to a
ccep
t an
d in
corp
orat
e gr
eate
r le
vels
of
fi shi
ng a
nd
aqua
cultu
re a
ctiv
ity, a
nd h
ow t
o as
sess
and
incr
ease
thi
s ca
rryi
ng c
apac
ity [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• U
nder
stan
ding
the
nat
ure
and
resi
lienc
e of
indu
stry
(soc
ial,
dem
ogra
phic
, eco
nom
ic a
nd a
ttitu
dina
l) [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
pre
dict
ing
beha
viou
ral r
espo
nses
to
man
agem
ent
appr
oach
es [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• Bu
ildin
g so
cial
cap
ital b
etw
een
indu
stry
and
com
mun
ity [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
Inadequate
������
��
�
Peo
ple
dev
elo
pm
ent10
2.6
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• A
nthr
opol
ogy;
Edu
catio
nal r
esea
rch;
Dem
ogra
phy;
Indi
geno
us s
tudi
es; S
ocio
logy
.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• U
nder
stan
ding
and
mee
ting
regi
onal
wor
kfor
ce n
eeds
, inc
ludi
ng a
ttra
ctio
n an
d re
tent
ion
of r
equi
red
tech
nica
l, m
anag
eria
l, pr
ofes
sion
al, s
emi-s
kille
d an
d sc
ient
ifi c
capa
bilit
y [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• Im
prov
ing
wor
kpla
ce h
ealth
and
saf
ety
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• D
evel
opin
g th
e le
ader
ship
ski
lls a
cros
s al
l sta
keho
lder
gro
ups
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• D
evel
opin
g bu
sine
ss a
nd b
usin
ess
mod
ellin
g ca
pabi
lity
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
• Bu
ildin
g st
akeh
olde
r ca
paci
ty t
o m
ove
tow
ard
co-m
anag
emen
t of
fi sh
erie
s [C
OM
MER
CIA
L, R
ECRE
ATI
ON
AL,
CU
STO
MA
RY]
• Bu
ildin
g sk
ills
and
netw
orks
tha
t su
ppor
t kn
owle
dge
tran
sfer
and
R&
D a
dopt
ion
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• Bu
ildin
g un
ders
tand
ing
betw
een
stak
ehol
ders
, inc
ludi
ng r
esea
rche
rs, m
anag
ers,
fi sh
ers
and
NG
Os
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• Id
entif
ying
and
und
erst
andi
ng f
acto
rs t
hat
driv
e re
spon
sive
ness
or
adop
tion
of n
ew p
ract
ices
and
in
nova
tion
and
how
the
se c
an b
e in
fl uen
ced
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
Inadequate
������
��
�
PAGE 55
10
Ed
uca
tio
n a
nd
tra
inin
g p
rov
ider
s w
ere
no
t in
clu
ded
in
th
is R
D&
E s
urv
ey.
Stra
teg
ic r
esea
rch
th
eme
(SR
T)Cu
rren
t fu
ll-ti
me
equi
vale
nt
(FTE
)
Tren
ds
and
futu
re s
ecto
r re
qu
irem
ents
an
d p
rio
rity
res
earc
h to
pic
s (b
ased
on
dat
a fr
om
cap
abili
ty a
ud
it, t
he
rela
ted
Rid
ge
Part
ner
s se
cto
r “O
verv
iew
” an
d th
e d
raft
Fis
her
ies
and
Aq
uac
ultu
re R
D&
E St
rate
gy)
Cap
abili
ty a
sses
smen
t
Now
1 to
5 ye
ars
5 to
10 y
ears
Exte
nsi
on
an
d a
do
pti
on
72.4
Co
re e
xper
tise
to
su
pp
ort
th
is S
RT
is p
rovi
ded
th
rou
gh
th
e fo
llow
ing
are
as:
• Ed
ucat
iona
l res
earc
h; D
emog
raph
y; In
dige
nous
stu
dies
; Soc
iolo
gy; C
omm
unic
atio
n / E
xten
sion
.
Prio
rity
res
earc
h t
op
ics
• Id
entif
y pe
rcei
ved
valu
e of
Res
earc
h an
d ne
w t
echn
olog
y to
indu
stry
sec
tors
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• C
omm
unic
atin
g ac
cess
ible
key
mes
sage
s ab
out
the
fi shi
ng a
nd a
quac
ultu
re in
dust
ry t
o th
e co
mm
unity
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• C
aptu
re a
nd t
rans
fer
know
ledg
e fr
om d
omes
tic a
nd in
tern
atio
nal s
ourc
es t
o in
dust
ry a
nd m
anag
ers
[ALL
SEC
TORS
]
• D
emon
stra
te t
he v
alue
and
link
bet
wee
n R
&D
and
pro
fi tab
ility
and
sus
tain
abili
ty [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• U
nder
stan
d an
d de
sign
app
ropr
iate
com
mun
icat
ion
and
adop
tion
and
enga
gem
ent
syst
ems
for
all s
ecto
rs [A
LL S
ECTO
RS]
• D
evel
op in
dust
ry c
apac
ity t
o un
dert
ake
adop
tion
and
exte
nsio
n [A
QU
AC
ULT
URE
, CO
MM
ERC
IAL]
• Ev
alua
te t
he im
pact
s an
d va
lue
of t
he a
dopt
ion
and
exte
nsio
n pr
ogra
m t
o co
ntin
ually
impr
ove
perf
orm
ance
[AQ
UA
CU
LTU
RE, C
OM
MER
CIA
L]
Inadequate
���
��
�
PAGE 56
App
endi
x 2:
Cur
rent
and
em
ergi
ng c
olla
bora
tive
arra
ngem
ents
Co
llab
ora
tive
ag
reem
ent
Prin
cip
al p
artn
ers
Inte
nt,
des
crip
tio
n, f
eatu
res
DPI
Vic
toria
/SA
RDI A
llian
ce
Con
trac
tual
agr
eem
ent
sign
ed b
y St
ate
Min
iste
rs
7 N
ovem
ber
2008
Dep
artm
ent
of P
rimar
y In
dust
ries,
Vic
toria
Sout
h A
ustr
alia
n Re
sear
ch a
nd
Dev
elop
men
t In
stitu
te (A
quat
ic S
cien
ces)
To p
rovi
de a
mor
e ef
fect
ive
and
effi c
ient
del
iver
y of
aqu
atic
sci
ence
s th
roug
h:
• co
nsol
idat
ing
and
build
ing
spec
ialis
ed c
apab
ility
in s
elec
ted
area
s of
aqu
atic
sci
ence
by
one
allia
nce
part
ner
• fo
ster
ing
colla
bora
tion
betw
een
the
agen
cies
,
• de
liver
ing
R&
D s
ervi
ces
to e
ach
othe
r,
• fa
cilit
atin
g th
e ef
fi cie
nt d
evel
opm
ent
of n
ew c
apab
ilitie
s in
aqu
atic
sci
entifi
c r
esea
rch,
• en
hanc
ing
the
perf
orm
ance
of
the
aqua
tic s
cien
ce n
on-b
usin
ess
func
tions
of
SARD
I and
DPI
Vic
toria
th
roug
h th
e co
ordi
natio
n of
act
iviti
es, a
nd
• pr
ovid
ing
enha
nced
inve
stm
ent
attr
actio
n by
a c
onso
lidat
ed a
nd c
oord
inat
ed s
ervi
ce o
ffer
.
Mar
ine
Inno
vatio
n So
uth
Aus
tral
ia (
MIS
A)
.
MIS
A is
an
initi
ativ
e of
the
So
uth
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
repr
esen
ting
a pa
rtne
rshi
p be
twee
n:
e A
ustr
alia
n Re
sear
ch a
nd D
evel
opm
ent
Inst
itute
(SA
RDI)
Flin
ders
Uni
vers
ity (
FU)
Uni
vers
ity o
f A
dela
ide
Sout
h A
ustr
alia
n M
useu
m
Sout
h A
ustr
alia
n Se
afoo
d In
dust
ry
Regi
onal
com
mun
ities
To p
rovi
de t
he b
est
outc
ome
for
Sout
h A
ustr
alia
’s s
eafo
od in
dust
ry a
nd m
arin
e en
viro
nmen
t.
Impl
emen
ted
in 2
005.
Sout
h A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t co
ntrib
uted
$13
.7 m
illio
n, F
U $
2 m
illio
n to
infr
astr
uctu
re a
nd s
alar
ies.
$23
mill
ion
proj
ect
fund
s, >
30 s
taff
, >80
pro
ject
s.
Brin
gs t
oget
her
and
enha
nces
the
cap
abili
ties
of S
outh
Aus
tral
ia’s
aqu
atic
R&
D s
ecto
r in
the
are
as o
f:
• pr
oduc
t qu
ality
and
val
ue a
ddin
g
• aq
uacu
lture
inno
vatio
n
• ec
osys
tem
s se
rvic
es
• bi
osec
urity
Build
s co
llabo
rativ
e pa
rtne
rshi
ps w
ith t
he s
eafo
od in
dust
ry.
Del
iver
s ou
tcom
es f
or t
he s
usta
inab
le d
evel
opm
ent
of t
he s
eafo
od in
dust
ry.
PAGE 57
APPENDIX 2
PAGE 58C
olla
bo
rati
ve a
gre
emen
tPr
inci
pal
par
tner
sIn
ten
t, d
escr
ipti
on
, fea
ture
s
Tasm
ania
n A
quac
ultu
re a
nd
Fish
erie
s In
stitu
te (
TAFI
) Joi
nt
Vent
ure
Agr
eem
ent
Uni
vers
ity o
f Ta
sman
ia
Tasm
ania
n St
ate
Gov
ernm
ent
To f
oste
r st
rong
col
labo
rativ
e lin
kage
s an
d pa
rtne
rshi
ps w
ith s
imila
r ag
enci
es a
roun
d th
e gl
obe
to b
alan
ce
the
econ
omic
, soc
ial a
nd e
nviro
nmen
tal f
acto
rs f
or t
he lo
ng t
erm
pro
sper
ity o
f th
e Ta
sman
ian
and
broa
der
Aus
tral
ian
com
mun
ity.
Esta
blis
hed
in 1
998,
it c
ombi
ned
the
com
plem
enta
ry r
esou
rces
and
fac
ilitie
s of
bot
h in
stitu
tions
into
a
sing
le e
ntity
to
prom
ote:
• co
ordi
natio
n of
res
earc
h ef
fort
with
sha
red
goal
s an
d pr
iorit
ies
• im
prov
ed f
ocus
and
qua
lity
in r
esea
rch
and
deve
lopm
ent
activ
ities
• an
enh
ance
d ro
le f
or in
dust
ry in
dire
ctin
g an
d co
mm
ittin
g re
sear
ch r
esou
rces
, and
• in
crea
sed
acce
ss t
o C
omm
onw
ealth
fun
ds f
or r
esea
rch
and
deve
lopm
ent.
TAFI
is a
sta
nd-a
lone
inst
itute
with
in t
he U
nive
rsity
of
Tasm
ania
’s F
acul
ty o
f Sc
ienc
e, E
ngin
eerin
g an
d Te
chno
logy
com
bini
ng a
reas
of
aqua
tic a
nd m
arin
e re
sear
ch f
rom
the
Dep
artm
ent
of P
rimar
y In
dust
ries,
Pa
rks,
Wat
er a
nd E
nviro
nmen
t (D
PIPW
E) a
nd t
he U
nive
rsity
of
Tasm
ania
. The
se a
re:
• D
PIPW
E M
arin
e Re
sear
ch L
abor
ator
ies
at T
aroo
na
• Fi
sh H
ealth
Uni
t at
the
DPI
PWE
Mou
nt P
leas
ant
Ani
mal
Lab
orat
orie
s, L
aunc
esto
n
• Sc
hool
of
Zool
ogy,
on
the
Uni
vers
ity’s
Hob
art
cam
pus
TAFI
has
str
ong
colla
bora
tive
part
ners
hips
with
nat
iona
l par
tner
s su
ch a
s th
e C
SIRO
Mar
ine
and
Atm
osph
eric
Re
sear
ch a
nd a
num
ber
of s
tate
fi sh
erie
s ag
enci
es s
uch
as P
IRV
ic a
nd S
ARD
I. It
als
o ha
s in
tern
atio
nal
part
ners
hips
with
IFRE
MER
in F
ranc
e an
d th
e V
irgin
ia In
stitu
te o
f M
arin
e Sc
ienc
e in
the
USA
.
El N
emo
Clim
ate
Cha
nge
Prog
ram
El N
emo
par
tner
s
Sou
th E
ast
Pro
gra
m p
artn
ers:
Vic
toria
n, N
ew S
outh
Wal
es, S
outh
A
ustr
alia
n an
d Ta
sman
ian
gove
rnm
ents
Aus
tral
ian
Fish
erie
s M
anag
emen
t A
utho
rity
CSI
RO
Sout
h A
ustr
alia
Res
earc
h an
d D
evel
opm
ent
Inst
itute
Tasm
ania
n A
quac
ultu
re a
nd F
ishe
ries
Inst
itute
FRD
C
The
El N
emo
prog
ram
is p
art
of a
nat
iona
l fra
mew
ork
to c
oord
inat
e th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of t
wo
natio
nal
plan
s an
d st
rate
gies
incl
udin
g th
e N
atio
nal C
limat
e C
hang
e A
ctio
n Pl
an f
or F
ishe
ries
and
Aqu
acul
ture
, and
th
e N
atio
nal A
dapt
atio
n Re
sear
ch P
lans
for
Mar
ine
Biod
iver
sity
and
Res
ourc
es, a
nd P
rimar
y In
dust
ries.
The
prog
ram
is g
over
ned
by a
Coo
rdin
atio
n C
omm
ittee
whi
ch in
clud
es m
embe
rs f
rom
acr
oss
Aus
tral
ia.
A c
lear
goa
l for
the
pro
gram
is t
o de
al w
ith c
omm
on q
uest
ions
tha
t sp
an b
orde
rs; a
nd t
o he
lp c
oord
inat
e in
vest
men
t. T
he p
rogr
am w
ill a
lso
prov
ide
an o
ppor
tuni
ty t
o co
ordi
nate
sup
port
and
act
iviti
es w
ith t
he
Dep
artm
ent
of C
limat
e C
hang
e an
d En
ergy
Effi
cie
ncy
and
the
Dep
artm
ent
of A
gric
ultu
re, F
ishe
ries
and
Fore
stry
.
Thre
e re
gion
ally
bas
ed p
rogr
ams
will
be
esta
blis
hed.
• So
uth
East
• Tr
opic
al
• W
este
rn
Co
llab
ora
tive
ag
reem
ent
Prin
cip
al p
artn
ers
Inte
nt,
des
crip
tio
n, f
eatu
res
El N
emo
Clim
ate
Cha
nge
Prog
ram
(co
ntin
ued)
No
rth
ern
Tro
pic
al P
rog
ram
Par
tner
s:
Que
ensl
and
and
Nor
ther
n Te
rrito
ry
gove
rnm
ents
Que
ensl
and
Seaf
ood
Indu
stry
Ass
ocia
tion
Nor
ther
n Te
rrito
ry S
eafo
od C
ounc
il
Sunfi
sh
Que
ensl
and
Am
ateu
r Fi
sher
man
’s A
ssoc
iatio
n of
the
N
orth
ern
Terr
itory
Que
ensl
and
Aqu
acul
ture
Indu
stry
Fe
dera
tion
Gre
at B
arrie
r Re
ef M
arin
e Pa
rk A
utho
rity
Aus
tral
ian
Inst
itute
of
Mar
ine
Scie
nce
CSI
RO
Que
ensl
and
FRA
B
FRD
C
Wes
tern
Pro
gra
m P
artn
ers:
Wes
t A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t
Wes
tern
Aus
tral
ian
Mar
ine
Scie
nce
Inst
itutio
n
Aus
tral
ian
Inst
itute
of
Mar
ine
Scie
nce
CSI
RO
Wes
tern
Aus
tral
ia F
ishi
ng In
dust
ry C
ounc
il
Recfi
shw
est
FRD
C
Wes
tern
Aus
tral
ian
Mar
ine
Scie
nce
Inst
itutio
n (W
AM
SI)
Fift
een
stat
e an
d C
omm
onw
ealth
go
vern
men
t, a
cade
mic
and
priv
ate
part
ners
.
Ded
icat
ed t
o un
ders
tand
ing
the
mar
ine
envi
ronm
ent
and
reso
urce
s, a
nd t
o co
ntrib
ute
to p
olic
y an
d m
anag
emen
t de
cisi
ons
on t
he f
utur
e us
e of
oce
ans.
WA
MSI
’s s
trat
egic
pro
ject
s ad
dres
s so
cial
and
eco
nom
ic e
ffec
ts o
f ch
ange
s to
mar
ine
reso
urce
man
agem
ent,
ec
osys
tem
-bas
ed m
anag
emen
t, c
hang
e an
d m
arin
e ec
osys
tem
s an
d ec
osys
tem
s an
d fo
od-w
ebs.
Wes
t A
ustr
alia
n st
ate
gove
rnm
ent
prov
ided
a $
21 m
illio
n fi v
e-ye
ar in
vest
men
t w
ith a
$60
mill
ion
co-in
vest
men
t by
mem
ber
part
ners
. Its
hea
dqua
rter
s ar
e at
the
Uni
vers
ity o
f W
este
rn A
ustr
alia
.
Aqu
acul
ture
Res
earc
h St
rate
gyC
SIRO
, Dep
artm
ent
of E
mpl
oym
ent,
Ec
onom
ic D
evel
opm
ent
& In
nova
tion
(DEE
DI)
Co
-loca
tion
of ~
15 C
SIRO
aqu
acul
ture
res
earc
h st
aff
at t
he D
EED
I Brib
ie Is
land
Res
earc
h C
entr
e (B
IRC
) fr
om M
ay 2
011,
with
CSI
RO c
onst
ruct
ing
a $5
mill
ion
nutr
ition
res
earc
h fa
cilit
y at
BIR
C. T
his
agre
emen
t w
ill s
uppo
rt m
ultid
isci
plin
ary
rese
arch
and
col
labo
ratio
n on
pro
ject
s of
nat
iona
l/int
erna
tiona
l sig
nifi c
ance
.
PAGE 59
Working Together:
the National Fishing and A
quaculture RD&
E Strategy 2010A
CO
MP
ON
E N
T O
F T
HE
NA
TIO
NA
L P
RIM
AR
Y IN
DU
ST
RIE
S R
ES
EA
RC
H, D
EV
EL
OP
ME
NT
AN
D E
XT
EN
SIO
N F
RA
ME
WO
RK